Grade Level- 4th
Science Area- Earth
Science Standard Reference-4.4.a- Students know how to differentiate among igneous,
sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks by referring to their properties and methods of formation (the
rock cycle).
Title of the lab- Igneous and metamorphic rocks
Goal of the Lab (student outcomes)- Students will create igneous and metamorphic rocks to better
understand how these rocks are formed.
Materials Needed:
Crayon shavings (24-pack, cut up into small pieces or shaved)
Plastic spoon
1 package large marshmallows, cut in half
1 package large different colored marshmallows (check around during holidays)- cut in half
Wax paper, cut into 5-inch squares (2 per person/group)
Aluminum foil, 5-inch squares (1 per person/group)
Beaker, at least 400 mL
Hot water
Procedure: (I start out the igneous rock, and do the metamorphic rock while the igneous rock is
“forming”)
Metamorphic
1. Hand out 1 white and 1 different colored marshmallows (4 pieces in all) to each student.
Have them draw and write a description of what they observe. Stack the marshmallows by
alternating pieces on a piece of wax paper.
2. Place the other piece of wax paper on top of the tower of marshmallow. Carefully press
down on the tower, placing as much PRESSURE as possible.
3. Remove the top wax paper to obtain the "metamorphic" rock. Have the students examine
their "rock." How is it different from what they observed originally? Have students draw and
write an observation of the change.
Igneous
1) Have students build boat of aluminum foil- must be able to fit inside of beaker. Once that is
accomplished, adult places a spoonful of crayon shavings inside the boat. Students draw and
write an observation of the crayon pieces inside of the boat.
2) Adult pours about 200 mL of very hot/boiling water inside the beaker, and the student
carefully places the boat in the water. If the boat sinks, that’s all right- the experiment will
still work.
3) After 10 minutes, remove the boat from the water. If the boat has sunk, pull it out with a
pencil or fork. Allow to dry, and write and draw observations of the crayon pieces. Boat can
be pulled apart, and new crayon pieces can be taken home.
Time required: Set-up- 45 minutes (cutting crayons and all paper) Duration- 45 minutes
Created by J. Michael and C. Ibrahim
Manhattan Beach Unified School District
Meadows Science Lab
Mrs. Michael
Name __________________________________ Room Number _______
Igneous and metamorphic rocks
Last week we made sedimentary rocks- today we will make igneous and metamorphic
rocks. As always, DO NOT EAT YOUR ROCKS!
Form your aluminum foil into a boat. Pour your crayon shavings into your boat. Make
observations about the crayon shavings.
Crayon shavings before temperature change
Drawings Written observations
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
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Place the boat into the beaker of hot water. While it is changing, let’s begin the next
rock formation!
Place your pink and white marshmallows on top of each other on one of the pieces of
wax paper to make a tower. Make sure you alternate pink and white! Make an
observation of your tower.
Rocks before pressure
Drawing Written observations
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
Created by J. Michael and C. Ibrahim
Manhattan Beach Unified School District
Place the other piece of wax paper on top of the tower, and carefully press down hard
on the tower. Remove the top layer of wax paper, and make an observation of your
new rock.
Rocks after pressure
Drawing Written observations
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
Look at the crayon shavings inside the boat. Carefully remove the foil, and do your
observations.
Crayon shavings after temperature change
Drawing Written observations
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
1) What kind of rock did you make with the crayon shavings? How do you know?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2) What kind of rock did you make with the marshmallows? How do you know?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Created by J. Michael and C. Ibrahim
Manhattan Beach Unified School District