The Rock Cycle: Understanding The Processes And Products Of An Ever-Changing Earth

Some of you may remember the old way of learning what we called "geology" in school (now usually referred to as "earth science"), which was to hear a lot of words like "igneous" and "sedimentary" and squint at fuzzy black and white photos in a dry as sand textbook. The Rock Cycle is a refreshingly visual approach, which features a very nicely done animated centerpiece, enhanced with great sound effects and a Native American soundtrack, to show students the cyclical nature of rock formation. Beginning with volcanoes, both above ground and underwater, the film shows how molten lava crystallizes into igneous rock; how the processes of weathering, erosion, and transport disperse rock particles forming sediments (which are further acted upon to create sedimentary rock); how heat and pressure combine to make metamorphic rock, and how the melting process brings the cycle to a close with molten lava once again. Using a wide variety of filmed natural activities, The Rock Cycle demystifies earth science, while at the same time promoting a greater understanding of the interrelatedness of Earth's natural processes. Highly recommended for junior high school libraries, public libraries may also want to consider this. (Available from: Terra Productions, 2019 Fairview Ave. East, Suite K, Seattle, WA 98102.)