Earth's lithosphere is the rigid, outer part of the planet, including the crust and upper mantle. Readers of this informative guide will learn about the types of rock, including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary, that make up the lithosphere—and how they come together to form the rock cycle. They'll also see how the movement of tectonic plates inside Earth creates landforms and natural events. Helping to fulfill standards in the earth science curriculum, this book features vibrant photographs and in-depth sidebars.