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Volcanoes
Magma, lava, ash and gas: why some volcanoes pour out rivers of lava and others explode, where volcanoes are found, and how scientists watch them. Based on the US Geological Survey, the British Geological Survey and an open university geology textbook. Three ages, each with a text, an experiment, a game, a quiz, a printable worksheet and a teacher sheet.
Ages 6–7Fire mountainsDeep under the ground, rock can be so hot that it melts. Find out what a volcano is, what lava and ash are, and make your own fizzy model volcano.Ages 10–11Runny lava and explosive ashWhy does magma rise, why do some volcanoes explode while others pour out lava, and where on Earth are volcanoes found? With a fair-test 'lava race'.Ages 15–16Magma, gas and plate tectonicsHow magma composition controls viscosity, gas content and eruption style; volcanoes at subduction zones, spreading ridges and hotspots; hazards and monitoring. With a bubble-rise investigation and plate-speed calculations.