Name _________________________________
Date __________________________________
How Do I Get an “A” on My Volcano Project?
WHAT IS THE PROJECT?: An In-Class group presentation featuring…
1) An active working model of a real volcano.
2) A printed travel brochure, completed in Microsoft Publisher or PowerPoint
Presentation
Follow all the instructions below, and do your very best work!
Your working volcano model is due ________________________________!!
HOW DO I COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS?:
1) Pick an active volcano that exists in the world today, preferably in the birthplace of
your ancestors. If your folks came from a place where there are no volcanoes, that’s
okay, just pick an active volcano in the United States!
2) Compile the following facts about your volcano and pictures in a Microsoft Publisher
travel brochure OR PowerPoint.
a. Volcano name and location: country, latitude, longitude, & closest city
b. Type of volcano, and its location in a subduction zone, hot spot or divergent plate
boundary:
i. Stratovolcano (Composite)
ii. Shield volcano
iii. Cinder Cone
iv. Underwater Seamount
c. Characteristics of eruptions, based on silica and gas content of magma, and
based on Claim, Evidence and Reasoning
d. Elevation above sea level in feet
e. Actual size at the base. You may have to get this information from Google maps
or Google Earth.
f. List measurements & calculate volume in cubic meters. SHOW ALL WORK!
g. Brief history of the volcano
i. When did it first erupt? When did it last erupt?
ii. Known damage done by the volcano
1. How many people killed or injured, towns destroyed
2. How many $ worth of property damage
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Name _________________________________
Date __________________________________
h. 1-2 Paragraphs: Local myths or legends surrounding this volcano (For Example: Pele,
is the Hawaiian goddess of fire. If you take Pele’s “tears” from Hawaii, she will
follow you to get them back!)
i. Complete sentences, proper spelling & paragraph formatting
3) Create a 3-dimensional model, using a cardboard pyramid as a base.
a. Base should be no larger than 35cm x 35 cm, and no higher than 40 cm
b. Calculate the volume of the pyramid using 3D geometry.
c. Use suggestions about pyramid base construction from the exercise in class.
d. Where do you get cardboard? Please don’t buy cardboard. Drop by your local
grocery store, drug store or variety store. The clerks in the storeroom are
happy to give away empty boxes!
4) Cover the outside surface of the pyramid anyway you like to simulate a real volcano.
Just leave an opening at the top for your volcano eruption and an interior view of the
volcanic structures, like pipes and magma chamber. Be creative and have fun! You may
use any or all of the following, or find your own ideas:
a. Paper mache’, modeling clay, play dough, Styrofoam, crumpled paper, cardboard;
use a plastic waterbottle for the magma chamber and main pipe.
b. You may add model trees, people, animals, and villages.
c. You may NOT put any live animals inside your volcano, not even insects, not even
snails or slugs or caterpillars or spiders.
5) Decide on one method of model volcano eruption technology. All will be modeled in
class, and you’ll have recipes for each, as well as for play dough.
a. Hydrogen peroxide/Yeast
b. Baking soda/Vinegar
c. Diet Coke/Mentos (but ONLY if this chemical reaction simulates your volcano of
high gas and low silica)
d. Or find your own MODEL volcano eruption technology
You may include food color. YOUR ERUPTION METHOD MUST BE SAFE FOR
STUDENTS WEARING STREET CLOTHING AND SAFETY GOGGLES, AND
STANDING WITHIN 20 FEET OF THE VOLCANO WHEN IT ERUPTS.
6) Test your volcano at home to make sure it works. Bring all materials, and be ready to
erupt your volcano during class on ________________________ If you have trouble
getting materials, please talk with Mrs. Stead after class, during break, during lunch or
after school.
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Name _________________________________
Date __________________________________
Rubric for Volcano
Project:
Important Volcano
Geology (points x 3)
Native Volcano Myth or
Legend (points x 3)
Volcano Model
(points x 3)
Awesome! 4 points
Pretty Good… 3 points
Could be better. 2 points
Student knows location of
volcano, both its country
and its latitude and
longitude. Student knows
the elevation of the
volcano. Volcano type is
described, as well is
location in a subduction
zone, divergent plate
boundary or geological hot
spot. Student knows if
volcano is active, dormant
or extinct. Eruption
history and
characteristics are
clearly and briefly
written.
Students knows, writes,
and can describe to the
class the legend(s) native
people have passed from
generation to generation
about this volcano, why it
erupts, and how the
eruption will affect
peoples lives.
Student has properly
recorded the
measurements of the
pyramidal base, and has
accurately calculated its
volume, and shows all
math calculations on
paper.
Student knows the
modern country where the
volcano is, but the
latitude and longitude, or
elevations are missing.
Student knows if volcano
is active, dormant or
extinct, but doesn’t
provide info about its
location in a subduction
zone or hotspot. Student
is unable to describe the
destruction it has caused.
Student provides only
limited information about
the volcano, or the model
is not based on real data.
Most important geological
facts are missing or are
incomplete.
Student knows the name
of the gods, mythical
creatures or legends
associated with the
volcano, but does not fully
tell the story in writing or
to the class.
Student is able to name
the volcano, but provides
no story to share with the
class.
Student has a cool model,
but has not shown all
measurements; has a
volume for the pyramid
that is inaccurate; or has
not shown all math work.
Student has a cool model,
but the math work is
missing.
Publisher Brochure
(points x 2)
Student has made
measurable efforts to
make the volcano look like
the chosen real volcano.
Brochure is carefully and
artfully designed for an
overall beautiful result.
Information is wellorganized, well-written,
and a joy to behold.
Eruption Method
(points x 1)
Eruption is awesome!
Ooooh…..aaaahhhh!
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Student’s model does not
make an attempt at
realistically portraying
the chosen volcano. More
on the oooh-aaahhh than
the actual science.
All information is present,
but may be less than a joy
to behold. Or the
brochure may have a lot
of zing, without the
thought or good writing to
back it up.
Eruption is good, but it
doesn’t represent the
conditions under which
this volcano has formed.
Student is focused only
on blowing up the volcano,
but not on the history,
geology or physics of the
natural phenomena
associated with this
volcano.
Brochure is hastily thrown
together, or otherwise
shows a lack of good
planning or adequate
teamwork. Brochure may
be B&W because of
inadequate planning time.
Eruption is a fizzle! But,
hey, you tried, right?
Name _________________________________
Date __________________________________
Suggested Websites for Research:
http://volcano.und.edu/
Volcano World: A Higher Education, K-12, and Public Outreach project of the North Dakota
Space Grant Consortium
http://www.volcanoes.com/
Volcanoes Around the World
http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/
How Volcanoes Work
Lots of pictures and a volcano eruption animation
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc/cover2.html
United States Geological Survey site
Good info on underwater volcanoes
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/volcanoes/
Good descriptions and videos of lava flows
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