Baking Soda Volcano
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Standard III (Earth and Space Science): Understand the structure of Earth, the solar system, and the universe, the implications among them, and the processes and interactions of Earth’s systems.
Performance Objectives: Students will learn that Earth is composed of layers that include a crust, mantle, and core.
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Demonstration/Background Information: Most students love to learn about volcanoes and they love to make them! The following experiment is rather simple, but it’s fun and students love to get their hands dirty. The teacher will show a video and a PowerPoint on volcanoes first. This review of background information is important. I can also answer questions if needed and students are free to share their volcano stories.
Activity: Students will work in 3 groups to create their volcanoes. They will compare their design with the other class teams.
Materials: Each team will receive the following 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, warm water, plastic soda bottle, dishwashing detergent, food coloring, vinegar, medium-size round or rectangular plastic pan, and 2 T baking soda
Safety Considerations: Students need to wear lab aprons, goggles and gloves; they must read all instructions before beginning the experiment; table surfaces must be protected with plastic or newspapers; no horseplay allowed.
Procedure: Students will work in 3 teams and carefully follow the directions for a successful project.
Effective Question:
Some of you have made volcanoes before. Did you like this method best or share with the class one that you preferred?
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Analyze and Conclude:
As a group, reflect on this experiment. What did you learn? Discuss the process and the end result and write a paragraph on the lines below.
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(About.com, 2010)
Standard III (Earth and Space Science): Understand the structure of Earth, the solar system, and the universe, the implications among them, and the processes and interactions of Earth’s systems.
Performance Objectives: Students will learn that Earth is composed of layers that include a crust, mantle, and core.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Demonstration/Background Information: Most students love to learn about volcanoes and they love to make them! The following experiment is rather simple, but it’s fun and students love to get their hands dirty. The teacher will show a video and a PowerPoint on volcanoes first. This review of background information is important. I can also answer questions if needed and students are free to share their volcano stories.
Activity: Students will work in 3 groups to create their volcanoes. They will compare their design with the other class teams.
Materials: Each team will receive the following 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, warm water, plastic soda bottle, dishwashing detergent, food coloring, vinegar, medium-size round or rectangular plastic pan, and 2 T baking soda
Safety Considerations: Students need to wear lab aprons, goggles and gloves; they must read all instructions before beginning the experiment; table surfaces must be protected with plastic or newspapers; no horseplay allowed.
Procedure: Students will work in 3 teams and carefully follow the directions for a successful project.
- First make the 'cone' of the baking soda volcano. Mix 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil, and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (more water may be added if needed).
- Stand the soda bottle in the rectangular pan and mold the dough around it into a volcano shape. Don't cover the hole or drop dough into it.
- Fill the bottle most of the way full with warm water and a bit of red food color (can be done before sculpting if you don't take so long that the water gets cold).
- Add 6 drops of detergent to the bottle contents. The detergent helps trap the bubbles produced by the reaction so you get better lava.
- Add 2 tablespoons baking soda to the liquid.
- Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle. Watch out - eruption time!
- The cool, red lava is the result of a chemical reaction between the baking soda and vinegar.
- In this reaction, carbon dioxide gas is produced, which is also present in real volcanoes.
- As the carbon dioxide gas is produced, pressure builds up inside the plastic bottle, until the gas bubbles (thanks to the detergent) out of the 'volcano'.
- Adding a bit of food coloring will result in red-orange lava! Orange seems to work the best. Add some red, yellow, and even purple, for a bright display.
Effective Question:
Some of you have made volcanoes before. Did you like this method best or share with the class one that you preferred?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Analyze and Conclude:
As a group, reflect on this experiment. What did you learn? Discuss the process and the end result and write a paragraph on the lines below.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
(About.com, 2010)