The Three Types of Rocks Igneous Metamorphic & Sedimentary

Igneous Rocks The word igneous means “fire”. This will help us remember how they are formed. These are rocks that are formed from magma that has cooled and hardened. Time Passes Volcano erupts and lava spills out onto the earth. Lava cools and hardens. Igneous Rocks are formed.

Sedimentary Rocks Look at the word sedimentary. What word do you see in it? If you said sediment then you are right! Sediments are small pieces of dirt, sand, mud and clay. Sedimentary rocks are formed when these sediments pile up on each other for thousands or even millions of years. The pressure from the sediments above turns the material on the bottom into sedimentary rocks.

Metamorphic Rocks “Meta” and “morph” means a change in form Metamorphic rocks are made from sedimentary and igneous rocks. These rocks are formed when heat and pressure are added to igneous or sedimentary rocks. This usually happens when mountains are made.

The Rock Cycle The pressure of many layers of sediments on top of one another creates this rock. These are made from heat and pressure of other types of rocks. This rock is formed when lava from a volcano cools and hardens.