Rock Cycle Worksheets - - Free Printable

To solve this rock cycle diagram, we need to follow the arrows and match the processes with the correct rock types or materials from the Word Box.

Let's trace the cycle step by step:

1. Start at the volcano: The image shows a volcano erupting. Inside the volcano is hot, molten rock. The arrow pointing away from the volcano says "cooling." When magma cools down, it turns into solid rock.
* Looking at the Word Box, the hot liquid rock inside the earth is called Magma. So, the box right above the volcano (where the melting arrow points) should be Magma. Wait, let's look closer. The arrow labeled "melting" points *to* the volcano/magma area. The arrow labeled "cooling" points *away* from the volcano to a dark, holey rock.
* Therefore, the material inside the volcano that melts is Magma. But usually, the label goes on the substance. Let's look at the flow.
* Arrow "melting" leads to the volcano center. The result of melting is Magma. So the box near the volcano center is likely Magma.
* Arrow "cooling" leads from the volcano to the black rock. When magma cools, it becomes Igneous rock. So the black rock is Igneous rock.

2. From Igneous Rock: There is an arrow going up from the black Igneous rock labeled "weathering & erosion." This process breaks rocks down into smaller pieces like sand and pebbles.
* The image shows a pile of sandy/gravelly material. These small pieces are called Sediments. So the top-left box with the sand picture is Sediments.

3. From Sediments: There is an arrow going to the right labeled "deposition, compaction, & cementation." This process squishes sediments together to form a new type of rock.
* The image shows a light-colored, layered-looking rock. Rocks formed from compacted sediments are called Sedimentary rock. So the top-right box is Sedimentary rock.

4. From Sedimentary Rock: There is an arrow going down labeled "heat & pressure." When sedimentary rocks are buried deep underground, heat and pressure change them without melting them.
* The image shows a rock with wavy bands or layers. This is characteristic of Metamorphic rock. So the middle-right box is Metamorphic rock.

5. From Metamorphic Rock: There is an arrow labeled "melting" pointing back towards the volcano/magma. This confirms the cycle continues as metamorphic rock melts back into magma.

6. The Center Box: There is a blank box in the very center. Often in these diagrams, the center label represents the overall concept. However, looking at the layout, there are 5 specific boxes for labels corresponding to images/stages and one central box. Let's re-evaluate the positions based on standard worksheet formats.
* Top Left (Sand image): Sediments
* Top Right (Light rock image): Sedimentary rock
* Middle Right (Banded rock image): Metamorphic rock
* Bottom Left (Dark rock image): Igneous rock
* Bottom Center (Volcano/Molten area): Magma
* What is the center box? Sometimes it's just a title space or "Rock Cycle". But looking at the Word Box, we have used all 5 terms: Magma, Igneous rock, Sediments, Sedimentary rock, Metamorphic rock.
* Let's check the number of blank boxes in the diagram vs words in the word box.
* Word Box has 5 items.
* Diagram has 6 blank boxes? Let's count carefully.
1. Top left (above sediments image)
2. Top right (above sedimentary rock image)
3. Middle right (left of metamorphic rock image) -> Actually, the box is to the left of the metamorphic rock.
4. Middle left (above igneous rock image) -> No, the box is above the igneous rock.
5. Bottom center (above magma/volcano)
6. Center box (between the rocks).
* Wait, let's look at the arrows again.
* Arrow from Igneous (black rock) -> Weathering/Erosion -> Sediments (sand). Box above sand is Sediments.
* Arrow from Sediments -> Deposition... -> Sedimentary Rock (light rock). Box above light rock is Sedimentary rock.
* Arrow from Sedimentary Rock -> Heat & Pressure -> Metamorphic Rock (banded rock). Box to the left of banded rock is Metamorphic rock.
* Arrow from Metamorphic Rock -> Melting -> Magma. The box above the volcano is Magma.
* Arrow from Magma -> Cooling -> Igneous Rock (black rock). The box above the black rock is Igneous rock.
* That accounts for 5 boxes. What is the 6th box in the center?
* Usually, if there is a central box in a cycle diagram with no arrow pointing specifically to it as a stage, it might be for the title "Rock Cycle" or it might be a mistake in my counting. Let me re-examine the image structure.
* Ah, I see 5 distinct rectangular boxes placed around the cycle images, and one rectangular box in the dead center.
* Let's look at the Word Box again: Magma, Igneous rock, Sediments, Sedimentary rock, Metamorphic rock. That is exactly 5 terms.
* It is highly likely the central box is not meant to be filled with a word from the word box, or perhaps the question implies labeling the *stages* which correspond to the 5 outer boxes. Or, sometimes "Rock Cycle" is the answer for the center, but it's not in the word box.
* Let's look at the prompt: "Identify and name the steps involved in the rock cycle". The word box provides the nouns (materials).
* Let's assume the 5 outer boxes correspond to the 5 words.
* Box above Sand/Pebbles: Sediments
* Box above Light Grey Rock: Sedimentary rock
* Box next to Banded Rock: Metamorphic rock
* Box above Volcano/Lava: Magma
* Box above Black Porous Rock: Igneous rock
* The center box is ambiguous. However, in many such worksheets, if there's a central box, it might just be decorative or for the student to write "Rock Cycle". Since "Rock Cycle" isn't in the word bank, and all 5 word bank items fit perfectly into the 5 stages surrounding the center, I will provide the labels for the 5 main stages corresponding to the images.

Let's double check the positions:
1. Top Left: Image is loose grains. Process leading to it is weathering. This is Sediments.
2. Top Right: Image is a solid chunk, formed from sediments. This is Sedimentary rock.
3. Middle Right: Image is foliated/banded. Formed by heat/pressure. This is Metamorphic rock.
4. Bottom Center: Image is a volcano with lava. Formed by melting. This is Magma.
5. Middle Left: Image is dark, vesicular rock. Formed by cooling magma. This is Igneous rock.

The center box remains. Is it possible one of the words goes there? No, the words describe the materials at the specific stages. The center is the "hub". I will list the answers for the labeled stages clearly.

Final Answer:
Here are the correct labels for the rock cycle steps, going clockwise from the top left:

1. Top Left (above the sand/pebbles): Sediments
2. Top Right (above the light-colored rock): Sedimentary rock
3. Middle Right (next to the banded rock): Metamorphic rock
4. Bottom Center (above the volcano): Magma
5. Middle Left (above the dark black rock): Igneous rock

*(Note: The empty box in the very center is typically left blank or used to write the title "Rock Cycle," as all the words from the Word Box are used in the other five spots.)*