September 19

The Birth of Rocks

We have launched into our first science unit all about rocks and minerals. What better way to launch a unit on rocks than to explore and learn about volcanoes, right?

Students have been investigating about some of these questions so far:

  • could a volcano pop up in your own backyard?
  • why do some volcanoes explode?

Students plotted volcanoes on a map (see picture below) and we noticed a pattern when we put all the maps together. This led us to hear of the Ring of Fire and how 75% of all volcanoes in the world lie on the Ring of Fire.

We learned today that there are different types of lava–thin lava that moves quickly like a syrup and thick lava that moves slowly and is kind of like toothpaste. We were investigating what kind of lava comes from a cone volcano and what  kind comes from a shield volcano.

Cone volcano

Shield volcano

Take a look at us experimenting with thin and thick lava (as you can see in the cups).

We will conclude tomorrow and discuss why some volcanoes explode and what kind of lava comes from a cone volcano and what kind comes from a shield volcano.

 


Posted September 19, 2018 by MrsS in category Science and Social Studies, Teacher Talk

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