Volcanic Eruptions in Year 4

'The Active Planet' is the title of Year 4's current IPC topic, and the children's learning today can certainly be described as active.  For several weeks, the children have been studying plate tectonics, how and why earthquakes occur, and how volcanoes are formed.  The model volcanoes, made from wire and paper mache, included a hidden magma chamber and main vent which was primed and ready to erupt at 10.45am. The magma was to be made from a combination of materials; water and baking soda poured in to begin with, some red food colouring created the lava effect and then the secret ingredient to cause the eruption, vinegar.

When mixtures were added, our playground became very active with volcanoes erupting in all directions. The effect was immediate with lava rising form the main vent and flowing down all sides of the model volcanoes.