• Students will construct a diagram which explains the rock cycle.

• Students will become familiar with an image editing program.

• Students will use the information that they have collected about igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks to construct a diagram that explains the rock cycle.

• Create a lesson that reviews the processes that are involved in the formation of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

• Prepare an activity sheet that provides instructions for the following activity. Include a rubric, timeline and resources where students can find the information they need to complete the assignment.

• Prepare a handout that has some tips for the use of the new software.

• Prepare an example so the students can see a visual representation of what is expected of them .

1. Review the processes that are involved in the formation of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
2. Introduce the activity and aid students in a discussion about the inference of the rock cycle.
3. Allow students to work as an individual or in small groups.
4. Get students to do a rough draft of their production.
5. Once they have completed their rough draft, allow students to begin work with the software. Make sure you do an introduction to the new software if they are not familiar with it. Deliver the handout so the students have a reference.
6. This activity can be completed if the students have had an introduction to the software. If they are not familiar with it you should allow more time.

Software

• Corel Draw or any image editing programs
  

Websites

• http://www.horne28.freeserve.co.uk/rockcycle.htm
  

• http://www.geocities.com/architecturewt/rockcycle-25.html
  

• http://www.science.ubc.ca/~geol202/rock_cycle/rockcycle.html
  

• http://www.moorlandschool.co.uk/earth/rockcycle.htm
  

• http://cuip.uchicago.edu/wit/2000/teams/geomod/rockcycle.html
  

• Evaluate all aspects of the project. Make certain that their inferences about the rock cycle are correct. A rubric could be very useful in the evaluation process.

• You could enhance the activity by allowing the students to create a power point presentation and present it to the class.

• Enhancement could also occur if you were to get the students to create an Image Map Project. This would allow the students to include all of the information they have collected about the different rock types. Front Page is an excellent software package to develop this Image Map. They could include explanations for all rock types and processes.