The subject of a volcano can be taught in a variety of classroom activities.
Teaching about volcanoes can be made fun by creating classroom activities. These activities can be used to help kids understand how an eruption works, what happens and where volcanoes are in the world. You can create a variety of practical experiments, worksheet activities and research projects to teach the students.
Class Volcano
A fun activity is creating a volcanic eruption in the classroom using baking soda and vinegar. Divide students into groups of five and give them a tray, modeling clay and an empty plastic bottle. The students will mold the clay around the upright bottle -- which is in the tray for safety -- so it takes the shape of a volcano. Place some baking soda in the bottle. Slowly poor vinegar into the bottle and let the students watch as the baking soda and vinegar react. Explain how this reaction is similar to the eruption of a volcano. Make sure the students wear gloves, protective clothing and safety goggles during the experiment.
Label Diagrams
An individual activity the students can do is to test their knowledge of volcano definitions. Hand out a worksheet with a diagram of a volcano. Each part has an arrow and a blank line. At the bottom of the sheet is a table of words, including "vent", "lava", "conduit" and "magma chamber." Each word has its definition beside it. Ask the students to label the different parts of the volcano with the table of words and definitions provided.
Creative Writing
You can encourage the students to practice writing skills and the use of new volcano vocabulary with a group creative writing activity. Write out a list of volcano vocabulary of the class board. These can include "crater," "disaster," "magma," "dormant" and "ash." Explain to the class you're going to write a story that must include all the words on the board. Go around the room and have each student come up with a sentence that incorporates a word. Write the sentence down on the board and ask the class the definition of the volcanic word used. Complete the story by asking every student to make a sentence. When the story is complete have the students write it down in their notebooks.
Volcano Watch
Students can learn about the destruction a volcano can cause by taking part in a research activity. Present a scenario to the class in which several volcanoes all over the world are going to violently erupt in a matter of weeks. The students are going to act as vulcanologists aiding the president of the United States. Divide the class into groups of three or four and ask them to present a report to the president about a volcano they have been assigned to study. Provide books and a computer so the students can cover what is going to happen and the way towns in the local area can prepare for the disaster. Each group presents its findings to the class, including the kind of eruption, the speed at which lava will flow, how they can save people and towns and how the environment will be affected.
Tags: baking soda, baking soda vinegar, bottle students, classroom activities, into groups, soda vinegar, table words
