Lesson 47 of 84 · Earth Systems
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🌋 Rock RealmVolcanoes: Mountains of Fire (Part 2)
Earth Systems.
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
The slowest changes are the biggest ones.
Mind = Blown
🪨 Every grain of sand on every beach used to be a mountain.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: which will erode faster?
What You'll Learn
Volcanoes form where magma from the mantle reaches Earth's surface. Shield volcanoes have gentle slopes with flowing lava, while composite volcanoes are steep with explosive eruptions.
Key Words
- anemometer
- rock cycle
- aquifer
Materials Needed
- clear container
- rocks
- sand
- clay
Safety First
- Wear safety goggles when mixing liquids.
Steps
Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.
Build a working model of a volcano using baking soda and vinegar. Observe the eruption and explain what causes real volcanic eruptions.
Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.
Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What is the difference between weather and climate?
Where you see this in real life
Today's weather, tomorrow's beach, next century's coastline — all this.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Look at the sky for 5 minutes and try to predict tomorrow's weather.
For the dinner table
“What's the slowest change you can think of?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Earth Systems for 5th Grade
Get the full Earth Systems track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.