Earth Science – Awesome Gelatin Volcano and other Activities

We have two hands-on volcano activities to share with you today; the gelatin activity was especially cool once we realized our mistake!  Both of them help demonstrate how the release of pressure causes lava to flow.

We had already spent a lot of time learning about plate tectonics.  Earth’s volcanoes are generally found where Earth’s plates are expanding or converging.  We looked closely at the parts of the volcano and also learned about the four types of volcanoes: shield volcanoes, cinder cone volcanoes, composite cone volcanoes, and caldera.

For our first activity, we made small “volcanoes” out of gelatin. To make our molds, we used 1 package of Gelatine (also spelled gelatin) and 1 cup boiling water. Stir til dissolved, pour into small cups or bowls and chill in the fridge for a few hours.

Gelatin Volcano Activity - first steps

We cut a circle out of a paper plate and poked a hole in the middle before resting the gelatin volcano on top.  Then we took a medicine syringe and filled it with water (dyed red).  We pressed the water/dye up into the gelatin mold and watched as a “magma chamber” formed. Then we could see streaks as small “vents” were made.

Hands-On Gelatin Volcano Activity

What we didn’t remember at first, was to form a “crack” in our volcano!!  Actually, I’m SO, SO glad we forgot because that drove home the point that volcanoes form along plates where there are large cracks in the surface of the Earth.  We were unable to get the “lava” to explode out of the top of our volcano, until we got a needle and formed a “crack” in the gelatin!  From then on we TRULY understood how/why volcanoes explode!!! So, if you’re willing to get your fingers pretty red (like ours are above)… I highly recommend doing it “wrong” and trying to figure out what went on when much of the “magma” squirts out along the bottom of the volcano.

Then, take a needle, puncture your gelatin volcano and try again!

Gelatin Volcano Activity

Click here to Pin this activity for later:

Gelatin Volcano Activity - Earth Science Unit

Of course, we also had to do the well-known baking soda – vinegar volcano.  As always, the kids loved this! Don’t forget to mix the dish soap, dye and vinegar together before adding it to the baking soda. We did it backwards and our volcano was much pinker than it should have been!

Exploding Volcano Activity

What else did we do for this portion of our Earth Science unit?

We filled out these pages from the Earth Science Packet I made for the kids:

 

Parts of a volcano worksheet Volcano Worksheets and Notebook Pages Volcano-Lapbook-Interactive-Notebook-Pieces Volcano Worksheets-Notebook Pages- Volcanic Hazards Types of Volcanoes Worksheets and Interactive Notebook Pages Types of Volcano Interactive Notebook ActivityEarth-Science-Packet 150 page - worksheets hands-on activities and more

And as always, we read a number of books and science texts.  ED (almost 8) especially loved Pompeii…Buried Alive! (Affiliate Link)

Volcano Books

Some of the videos we watched for this portion of our unit included:

Our 50+ page Earth Science Packet is finally here!! 

Learn how to make a earthquake shake table, more than a dozen hands-on activities on the layers of the earth, volcanoes, earthquakes, plate movement and more!

Topics include: Solar System, Layers of the Earth, Earth’s Axis and the Seasons, Latitude and Longitude, Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, 4 Types of Mountains

Click here to find out more about our

Earth Science Packet

Earth-Science-Packet 150 page - worksheets hands-on activities and more

 

Earth Science Unit - Layers of the Earth Activities Types of Volcanoes Worksheets - Interactive Notebook PagesParts of a volcano worksheet Volcano Worksheets and Notebook Pages

If you haven’t already checked out our hands-on activities on Plate Tectonics, be sure to visit this post!

Plate-TectonicsActivity-675x151

Layers of the Atmosphere Packet 

Layers of the Atmosphere Packet - Worksheets Hands-On Activities Notebook Pages Layers of the Atmosphere Printable Activity Earth Systems - Atmosphere Geosphere Hydrosphere Notebook Activity - Earth System Lapbook Pieces Earth's Atmosphere Packet 50+ pagesYou will find this packet and more in our Store!

You Might Be Interested in These Related Posts:

Earth Science Unit - Earthquake Shake Table

EarthSciencePacket-EarthsAtmosphere

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