Students use crayon shavings to model the rock cycle by forming sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. Heat, pressure, and cooling are simulated to show how rocks change form over time.

1. Peel the paper from crayons and create shavings using a potato peeler, knife, or cheese grater.
2. Place different colored shavings in layers on aluminum foil.
3. Fold the foil and press firmly with the bottom of a frying pan to form a sedimentary “rock.”
4. Heat the sedimentary rock in the frying pan until it melts slightly, then let it cool to form a metamorphic “rock.”
5. Reheat the metamorphic rock, stir the melted wax to mix colors completely, and quickly pour into ice water to form an igneous “rock.”
6. Compare the differences in appearance and texture between the three rock types.

Rock Cycle Modeled Out of Crayons - beebeamy:

Crayon Rock Cycle | STEM Activity - Science Buddies:

📄 Model the Rock Cycle with Crayons - Science Buddies: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/crayon-rock-cycle

• Use different color combinations to better visualize layering and mixing.
• Experiment with cooling times to see how rapid versus slow cooling affects igneous rock appearance.
• Try repeating the cycle multiple times to show ongoing rock transformations.

• Adult supervision required when using knives, graters, or heat sources.
• Use oven mitts or tongs to handle hot foil and melted crayons.
• Do not touch hot or melted crayons until cooled.
• Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling wax fumes.

• How does pressing crayon shavings together model the formation of sedimentary rocks? (It simulates layers being compacted by pressure over time.)
• What changes occur when the sedimentary crayon rock is heated into a metamorphic rock? (The layers swirl and fuse together, becoming stronger.)
• Why does pouring melted crayons into cold water represent igneous rock formation? (It shows how magma cools and solidifies quickly, sometimes with bubbles or unusual shapes.)
• What natural processes in the Earth correspond to the heat and pressure used in this model? (Plate tectonics, burial of rocks, volcanic activity.)
• Can rocks move backward in the cycle, for example from igneous back to sedimentary? (Yes, igneous and metamorphic rocks can erode into sediments that form sedimentary rocks.)