NASA
Lava Layering
Take the old baking soda and vinegar volcano to the next level by using it to study repeated lava flows over time, examine geologic features on Earth and Mars, and speculate about some of the formations on Mars.
Curated OER
Observing Lava Flows
Students examine the difference between fast and slow spreading lava flows. They identify various types of lava flow and determine the factors that cause them to form. Viewing photographs of lava flows, students working in groups,...
Curated OER
Understanding Lava Layers
Seventh graders view "Volcano" by National Geographic Video. They experiment with baking soda and study lava flow. They describe volcano and earthquake patterns. They analyze weather and climate changes and how they relate to the natural...
NASA
Lava Layering: Making and Mapping a Volcano
Looking for an out-of-this-world volcanic activity? Geologists study Earth's volcanic history and the neighboring planet Mars by modeling volcanic eruptions, lava flows, and building a shield volcano. Participants use graph paper and...
Curated OER
Is the Coast Really Toast?: A Lesson About Volcanoes, Phase Changes, and the Art of Estimation
Clever! Use a clip from the 1997 film, Volcano, to get your chemistry class knee-deep in heat concepts related to lava. In the movie scene, lava flow is stopped in the nick of time. Your class must use calculations to determine if this...
Curated OER
Cake Batter Lava
Learners examine how lava flows change the landscape. In this lava activity students complete a lab activity where they create a lava flow using cake batter.
It's About Time
Volcanic Hazards: Flows
Did you know the largest volcano in our solar system is on Mars? Young scholars measure and experiment with how to predict lava and mud flows. This knowledge leads to better evacuation, safety, and preventative methods.
Curated OER
Volcanoes: First Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Introduce young geologists to types of volcanoes during the pre-lab. First graders explore how different liquids flow with an experiment on viscosity to simulate how different types of lava flow. Next, they learn about the parts of a...
Curated OER
Magma Flow
Middle schoolers explore the flow of magma. They observe the effect of silica and heat on lava flow through a model using everyday items. in addition, they complete analysis questions.
Curated OER
Lava Layering
Students observe the layering process of lava flow with hands-on activities.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation
The pocket mouse can be light brown like the sands of the desert, or dark brown like the volcanic lava flows that are interspersed throughout New Mexico's Valley of Fire. It seems that predators have weeded out light colored mice in this...
Curated OER
Understanding Lava Layers
Seventh graders trace the lava flow of an erupting volcano. In this earth science lesson plan, 7th graders experiment using baking soda and vinegar. They record and share their observations.
101 Questions
Volcano
This resource will blow your mind! Young mathematicians estimate the rate of volcanic lava flow by watching a video. They apply the rate formula to determine how long it would take the lava to reach a city. Let's hope everyone gets out...
Curated OER
Making and Mapping a Volcano
Students build a baking soda volcano model. In this earth science lesson, students identify the sequence of lava flows. They make a volcano map using their models.
Curated OER
Make a Volcano Foldable
In this volcano instructional activity, students make a "foldable" for the three types of volcanoes. They identify the volcano types, the type of lava, the type of eruption, the location of the volcano and the slope on one of three cards...
Center for Math and Science Education
Volcano Model
When middle school earth science classes are covering volcanoes, they can cut out and construct a miniature model of a stratovolcano and its surrounding town. From the town side, the external features of the volcano appear. On the...
Mr. E. Science
Volcanoes
What is the difference between a shield volcano and a cinder cone volcano? How does the flow of lava influence the type of rock that's formed? A presentation on different aspects of volcanoes answers these questions for middle school...
It's About Time
Volcanic Landforms
Did you know the word volcano comes from the name of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan? During this activity, scholars make a topographic map, interpret topographic maps, and infer how lava will flow based on their analysis.
Curated OER
Ape Cave Exploration
Students simulate online the formation of Ape Cave, in order to better explain its construction. They observe, illustrate and discuss geological features of this lava tube.
Curated OER
Peanut Brittle Volcano
Students see simulated lava flow down a simulated volcano. They examine how lava cools fastest on the surface.
Curated OER
Igneous Rock Formation
Fifth graders use the computer lab to search for answers to questions on their workshet. They discuss the creation of igneouss rocks and listen as the teacher lectures about lava. Students follow directions to mix a batch of salt dough...
Curated OER
Volcano Activity
In this volcano worksheet, students measure the slope of a volcano and its baseline and summit degrees. They identify the type of volcano, the type of lava and the type of eruption.
Curated OER
Types of Volcanoes
For this volcano worksheet, students identify various aspects of volcanoes including identifying the types of volcano, the types of lava, the types of eruption, the locations of the volcanoes and the slopes of the volcanoes.
Columbus City Schools
Igneous Rock
These rocks are HOT! Well, they used to be, anyway. Take young geologists on a two-week journey through the life and times of the average igneous rock. Lab groups work together to hypothesize about intrusive and extrusive igneous rock...