Volcano Project: Research, Model Building, and Eruption Simulation

Project Description: Volcano Research and Model Building

This lesson enables students to research, create, and erupt their own volcano model. By investigating websites, volcano fact sheets, and other information sources, students should be able to plan and make a model that represents a real volcanic eruption and another that illustrates its internal structure.

They can then demonstrate their understanding of what a volcano is, its parts, the steps that lead up to a volcanic eruption, its history, and associated hazards by presenting their model and related information to the class.

This project gives each group a chance to become experts on a particular volcano and to understand natural phenomena, such as the stages of a volcanic eruption.

Academic Achievements

Content Objectives

• Students will be able to comprehend the processes of a volcanic eruption.

Language Objectives

• Students will be able to apply subordinating conjunctions to explain the steps leading up to a volcanic eruption.

Project Procedure

1. Students will learn about volcanoes in class, and the teacher will explain the related content.
2. Organize students into groups of four, and each group will select a volcano they wish to become experts on. Examples include:
   • Etna, Italy
   • Lassen Peak, California
   • Kilauea, Hawaii
   • Pinatubo, Philippines
   • Helgafell, Iceland
3. Direct students to gather the following information about their chosen volcano from a variety of sources (e.g., books, websites):
   • Type of volcano
   • Height of the volcano
   • Date of most recent (or most significant) eruption
   • Explanation of the steps leading up to a volcanic eruption
   • Pictures and interesting facts
4. In addition, have groups work together to type a report summarizing the information they gathered.
5. Finally, have the students build a model of their researched volcano and another that represents a cross-section of its internal structure. Ask them to present the volcano to the class. Students must explain the stages of a volcanic eruption using terminology learned in class, and then make the volcano erupt.

Procedure for Volcano Model (Model 1)

1. Lay newspaper or brown paper onto a flat surface to ensure the ensuing mess does not get on the table or surrounding area.
2. Place a plastic bottle into the center of the base.
3. Glue sticks around the bottle, placing them to form the volcano's pyramid shape.
4. Shape mud or clay around the bottle; the sticks should provide support.
5. Wait for the mud or clay to dry completely.
6. Paint the volcano.
7. Let the paint dry.
8. Decorate the model.