Rock Cycle Diagram, Starburst Activity and Lesson Plan

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Bring your rock cycle diagram to life with comics, color, and a Starburst lab!

This low-prep, print-and-go resource includes everything you need to make your lesson engaging and unforgettable—including a rock cycle diagram, a hands-on Starburst rock cycle lab, and supplemental worksheets your students will love.

Designed for 4th to 6th grade science, this lesson features comic-style content that’s perfect for interactive notebooks and visual learners. From illustrated reading passages to worksheet sets and vibrant diagrams, every piece is crafted to grab attention and improve comprehension.

Whether you’re reinforcing concepts or introducing the rock cycle for the first time, this resource helps even your most reluctant readers stay engaged and curious.

Starburst Rock Cycle Lab and Lesson Overview

Discover the stages of the rock cycle and reinforce understanding of the different types of rocks with these engaging diagrams and learning activities. Did you know the Earth’s interior is so hot it can melt rock? Melted rock is called magma, and this is the start of the rock cycle. This eye-catching comic explains the cycle and describes the three types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic).

Hands-on Starburst Activity

This low-prep rock cycle lab is hands-on and low-cost. Your learners will never forget the process of creating each type of rock using Starburst and a little elbow grease. They will follow the fully illustrated comic-style instructions through each step of the creation process to conclude the activity, students will place their models of each rock in the appropriate position in the rock cycle diagram.

What do you get?

Google Slideshow

A fully animated slideshow walking learners through the rock cycle.
You get your own editable copy!
Share directly into your virtual classroom

Lesson Plan Template–

Maps out how you can implement each aspect of this package
Explains how it can stretch out about a week (maybe even more).

Fully Colored Science Cartoon

Ready to go
One-page rock cycle comic
Perfect for projecting on the front board
Print as an anchor chart poster.

Black and White Version

Easy to print
Fun to color
Great for interactive science notebooks

Guided Note Version

Fill in the blank!
Use as a guided reading or guided note-taking tool.
Great for interactive notebooks.
Assess reading comprehension

Doodle Notes–

Traditional Doodle Notes.
Many words remain, but images are missing.
Engages your artists!

Multiple Rock Cycle Diagrams

Two fill-in diagrams and one complete diagram.
Add to interactive notebooks.

Hands-on Starburst Rock Cycle Activity

Students use Starbursts to replicate each aspect of the rock cycle.
Instructions are provided in a visual format making them accessible to more students

Follow-up Lab Sheet

Two versions available.
Students place their “rocks” in the appropriate location on the paper.

Rock Cycle Fact Sheet–

Assess your learner’s understanding
Use this as a supplemental study guide.

Rock Cycle Project–

Students create their own rock cycle comics
Uniquely assess their understanding!
This is a completely blank comic template.
Students can draw vertical lines where they see fit.

Differentiated Rubrics for “Create Your Own” Comic-

Rubrics to double as instructions for students and grading requirements.
TWO versions are included to accommodate different learning levels.

Answer Key

Teacher Tips

What makes Cool School Comics such an impactful learning tool?

They are FUN!

This is the most crucial benefit.
Students are more willing to participate and more engaged.
The content STICKS.

Visual learning is EFFECTIVE.

About 65% of the population consists of visual learners.
Visual information is processed faster.
Students who SEE information are more likely to retain it.

EASY to implement!

These lesson plans are complete and ready to go, requiring minimal prep time.
You only need to make copies, upload supplementals to your virtual classrooms, and set up the hands-on activities.
Lots of flexibility! You can print these as posters, add them to interactive notebooks, hand them out to students, or share them virtually. There is plenty of room for modifications.

Comics make content ACCESSIBLE

Naturally differentiated, comics accommodate a wide range of learning abilities and styles.
Great for classrooms with a diverse population of learners
They can simultaneously rope in both your gifted and struggling students (and everyone in between).
Reluctant readers gravitate toward comics.
Comics help English Language Learners (ESL, ELL) and some SPED students find success.

Check out the blog for a deeper look! Click Here

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