Activity at a Glance
What Can Lava Flows Tell You About the History of a Volcano?

Modified from http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/LavaLayers.html

Purpose
To understand how examining a series of lava flows can reveal a volcano's formation history.

Overview
Children make repeated colorful “volcanic eruptions” using food coloring, vinegar, and baking soda. They trace the edges of each “lava flow” and apply a layer of Play-Doh to record its size and shape. They examine how later flows overlap earlier ones and how earlier flows influence the paths of the subsequent flows. They determine a volcano's history of eruptions based on the layering of different flows. Children examine images of lava flows on other planets and use their experience with the volcano model to interpret the flow history.

Concepts

• Lava flows can reveal a volcano's formation history.
• Almost every solid planet or moon has or once had volcanic activity.
• Models enable people to understand the horizontal and vertical pattern of lava flows.
• Interpreting images of volcanos on other planets provides insight into that planet's history.

Appropriate Ages
This activity is intended for ages 10–13.

Time
90 minutes

Materials
For each group of 2 to 4 children:

• Images of volcanos and lava flows on Earth and other planets (or several sets so that the children can examine them). These could be in books or made into overheads. Good volcano images can be found for Tyrrhena Patera (Mars), Olympus Mons (Mars), Mount St. Helens, and the island of Hawai'i. (See also the images provided in the background section for this activity.)

Preparation

• For each team, cut the top off one cup so that it stands approximately 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) tall.
• For each team, tape the poster paper to the poster board.
• In the center of the paper, tape the cup in place, with the opening facing up.

Last updated
February 23, 2005