Goals:

1. The students will understand and be able to explain what happens when a volcano

erupts.

2. The students will use critical thinking skills to make their own volcano model.

3. The students will generate a hypothesis and make observations about their volcano

experiment.

4. The students will learn and understand the process of experimentation.

Resources:

1. Wall paper paste, tape, glue, etc.

2. Pill bottles, film canisters, plastic bottles, etc.

3. Paper towels and newspapers

4. Scissors

5. Paint brushes

6. Cardboard

7. Baking pans and trays

8. Tablespoons

9. Baking soda

10. Vinegar

11. Red food coloring

12. Lab report guidelines

13. Other miscellaneous supplies

Time:

The students will be given one and a half hours to complete this center.

Procedure:

1. The students will work in teams of two to three people. The students themselves will

determine what they roles of each member is (i.e. reporter, scribe, etc.).

2. The students will be given all the materials listed above, and within their teams they

will create a model of a volcano. The teacher will be available to give the teams

feedback and help if needed. But, the focus of this lesson is to allow the teams to

think critically and creatively on their own.

3. After the volcano models are completed, the team needs to make their own

predictions / hypothesis as to what is going to happen when vinegar and baking soda

is added to the inside of the volcano. This should be written on the lab report.

4. Next, the team needs to place one tablespoon of baking soda into their volcano

container. Then, team will then pour some vinegar into the container on top of the

baking soda.

5. The students will need to carefully watch what is happening and record their

observations on their lab report. They will then have to look at their hypothesis and

discuss if they were right or wrong.

7. When the students are done, they (with the help of the teacher) will need to explain

what they have witnessed and how it relates to a real volcano.

"The baking soda reacts with the vinegar, producing carbon dioxide gas. Pressure builds up inside the bottle (magma chamber). The gas expands and moves up the bottle (vent), pushing the liquid (magma) out of the top of the bottle (crater). Foam (lava) then flows from the top of the bottle (volcano) down the sides." ~ from Creative Kids Science Projects on Volcanoes

Assessment:

1. The students will turn in their lab report which will be assessed by the teacher. This

lab report will then be returned to the team with teacher feedback and comments

written on it. (Criteria for Success = The lab report is fully completed, and all the

questions are answered to the team's fullest ability.)

2. The students will fill out the peer- and self-evaluation rubrics. (Criteria for Success =

The students must average a 3 on both peer- and self-evaluation rubrics.)

Curricular Strands & Major Concepts

1. Science - chemistry, experimentation, volcanoes

2. Art - creation of volcano, creativity

3. Language Arts - writing

Possible Extensions:

1. The students could be given a geology lesson about volcanic rock.

- A Teacher's Guide to Geology of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/ )

2. The students could locate and research active volcanoes.

- The Hawaii Center For Volcanology

- Hawaii Volcano Geoventures (http://planet-hawaii.com/hea/)

- GVP Volcano Netlinks: Region 13: Hawaii & Pacific Ocean (http://www.nmnh.si.edu/gvp/links/gvl_r13.htm)

- Hawaii: The Islands of Fire

*This lesson was adapted from:

Kent Publishing Services. (1996). Creative Kids Science Project on Volcanoes. United States: Frank Schaffer Publications, Inc.

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