VOLCANO
STEM
ENGINEERING
Carly and Adam
OVERVIEW
This resource contains a volcano investigation and a volcano STEM
engineering challenge. The following is an overview of each
activity along with the materials that you will need for each one.
Volcano Investigation:
For the volcano investigation students will predict which
materials mixed together will create the biggest explosion.
Three different sets of materials are tested. After the tests
are complete students will reflect on their results.
Materials Needed: 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup vinegar, red
food coloring (optional), 2 small cans of Sprite or 7UP, 1 tin
pan, 3 clear plastic cups, Mentos, Lifesavers Mints, 1 2 Liter
of soda (optional)
Volcano STEM Challenge:
For the volcano STEM challenge students will build a fence
to protect a house from a volcano. After the tests are
complete students will reflect on their results.
Materials Needed (Per Group of 3-4 Students): 1/2 cup
baking soda, 1 cup vinegar, red food coloring (optional), 1
tin pan, 1 clear plastic cup, 1 container of Play-Doh, 8 large
popsicle sticks, 1 yard of masking tape, 1 small toy house
or an object to represent a toy house
©CarlyAndAdam
NGSS STANDARDS
Grades K-2
2-ESS1-1 Earth’s Place in the Universe
Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events
can occur quickly or slowly.
K-2-ETS1-2 Engineering Design
Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how
the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given
problem.
K-2-ETS1-1 Engineering Design
Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a
situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be
solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
Grades 3-5
5-PS1-4 Matter and Its Interactions
Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more
substances results in a new substance.
3-5-ETS1-2 Engineering Design
Generate and compare multiple solutions to a problem based on
how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the
problem.
©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO INVESTIGATION
Teacher Instructions
Materials:
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar
• red food coloring (optional)
• 2 small cans of Sprite or 7UP (at room temperature)
• Mentos
• Lifesavers Mints
• tin pan (to set the cup in for easier clean up)
• 3 clear plastic cups
• 1 2 liter of soda (for option extension activity)
Instructions:
• Watch some of the included YouTube videos with
your students to help develop background
knowledge about volcanoes.
• Students can also read the included article and
complete the comprehension questions.
• Explain to students that you will be conducting an
experiment to see which substances create the
biggest explosion when mixed together.
• Begin by having students create a prediction about
which substances they think will create the biggest
explosion and why.
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VOLCANO INVESTIGATION
Instructions (Continued):
• Once the students have made their predictions
complete each of the 3 experiments.
Experiment #1 (Baking Soda and Vinegar)
• Set the clear plastic cup in the tin pan.
• Measure out 1/2 cup of baking soda and dump it in
the cup.
• Measure out 1 cup of vinegar. Dye the vinegar red by
squeezing 2-3 drops of red food coloring into it.
(optional)
• Pour the vinegar into the cup of baking soda.
• Have students record the results.
Experiment #2 (Soda and Mentos)
• Set another clear plastic cup in the tin pan.
• Pour a small container of Sprite or 7UP into the cup.
• Dye the soda red by squeezing 2-3 drops of red food
coloring into it. (optional)
• Drop two Mentos into the cup of soda.
• Have students record the results.
Experiment #3 (Soda and Lifesavers Mints)
• Set another clear plastic cup in the tin pan.
• Pour a small container of Sprite or 7UP into the cup.
• Dye the soda red by squeezing 2-3 drops of red food
©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO INVESTIGATION
Instructions (Continued):
coloring into it. (optional)
• Drop two Lifesavers Mints into the cup of soda.
• Have students record the results.
Reflection
• Have students complete the reflection.
• The results should indicate that the baking soda and
vinegar produced a bigger explosion.
• As an optional extension activity drop a handful of
Mentos directly into a 2 liter bottle of soda. This
should produce a larger explosion due to the larger
volume and the fact that when the soda was dumped
into the cup in experiments #2 and #3 some of the
carbonation was lost.
• Be sure to debrief with students about which
eruptions were explosive and which were effusive and
why.
*Teacher Note: This experiment can be completed
inside or outside. However, if you do this extension
activity it is best to complete it outside due to the
larger explosion.
• Have students extend their learning by designing a
volcano proof fence.
©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO INVESTIGATION
Teacher Instructions: EXAMPLES
©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO INVESTIGATION
Teacher Instructions: EXAMPLES
©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO VIDEOS
Resources:
SciShow Kids: All About Volcanoes (3 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=K7Oq9_DU1Mc&t=63s
An Introduction to Volcanoes (7 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jxeh-yAXek
©CarlyAndAdam
_______________'S
VOLCANO
STEM
JOURNAL©CarlyAndAdam
What is a Volcano?
A volcano is a mountain that lava flows through. When
magma or hot, liquid, rock escapes from beneath the
Earth’s surface a volcano is created.
There are different types of volcanoes. A volcanic eruption
can either be explosive or effusive. An explosive eruption
occurs quickly and can cause a lot of destruction. On the
other hand, during an effusive eruption lava slowly oozes
out of the volcano.
One of the most well known volcanoes is Mount St. Helens
in Washington. In 1980 Mount St. Helens erupted and
within minutes it destroyed 230 square miles of forest.
Volcanoes can cause destruction as well as create
mountains and islands. A volcanic eruption can quickly and
permanently change the surface of the Earth.
©CarlyAndAdam
A volcano can either be active, dormant, or extinct. If a
volcano is active that means that it has had at least one
eruption in the past 10,000 years. If a volcano is dormant
that means that it hasn’t erupted in the past 10,000 years,
but it is expected to erupt again. A extinct volcano is one
that is not expected to erupt ever again.
What are the Parts of a Volcano?
Ash Cloud
Crater
Lava and
Vents
Ash Layers
Main Vent
Magma
Chamber
©CarlyAndAdam
Name:_______________________
What is a Volcano?
Directions: Answer the questions about volcanoes using
complete sentences.
What is the difference between an explosive and
effusive volcano?
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What is the difference between an active and dormant
volcano?
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What does is mean if a volcano is extinct?
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©CarlyAndAdam
Name:_______________________
What is a Volcano?
Directions: Label the parts of the volcano.
Word Bank: crater magma chamber main vent
vents lava and ash layers ash cloud
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Crater
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©CarlyAndAdam
Name:_______________________
Prediction
Dear Students,
Make a prediction about which ingredients you think will
make the biggest explosion and explain your thinking.
Experiment #1 Experiment #2 Experiment #3
1/2 Cup Baking Soda 1 Can of Soda 1 Can of Soda
1 Cup Vinegar 2 Mentos 2 Lifesaver Mints
Which mixture do you think will make the biggest explosion?
Why do you think that?
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©CarlyAndAdam
Name:_______________________
Reflection
Experiment #1 Experiment #2 Experiment #3
1/2 Cup Baking Soda 1 Can of Soda 1 Can of Soda
1 Cup Vinegar 2 Mentos 2 Lifesaver Mints
On a scale of 1 (smallest) On a scale of 1 (smallest) On a scale of 1 (smallest)
to 10 (biggest) rate the to 10 (biggest) rate the to 10 (biggest) rate the
explosion. explosion. explosion.
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Which ingredients created the biggest explosion?
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Was your prediction correct?
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©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO ENGINEERING
Teacher Instructions
Materials (for each group of 3-4 students):
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar
• red food coloring (optional)
• tin pan (to set the cup in for easier clean up)
• 1 clear plastic cup
• 1 small toy house (or an object used to represent a
house)
• 1 container of Play-Doh
• 8 large popsicle sticks
• 1 yard of masking tape
*To increase the difficulty of this challenge limit the
amount of tape to 1 or 2 feet.
*To decrease the difficulty of the challenge allow
students to have unlimited tape.
Instructions:
• Explain to students that now that they have some
background knowledge about volcanoes they will be
using what they learned to create a volcano proof
fence.
• Have students read the task instructions or read them
aloud.
©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO ENGINEERING
Instructions (Continued):
• Give students 10 minutes to plan individually and
then 10 minutes to plan as a team. Use the included
planning pages.
• Give students the materials listed above. Students will
have 30 minutes to construct their fence. The fence
will be constructed in the tin pan, and no additional
materials should be provided.
• The fence must be the length of a popsicle stick on
each side and students cannot use the edge of the tin
pan as part of their fence.
• At the end of the 30 minute time limit test the fences.
Set the plastic cup in the pan next to the fence and fill
it with 1/2 cup of baking soda. Next pour 1 cup of
vinegar into the cup. (Optional: add a couple drops of
red food coloring to the vinegar first)
• To complete the challenge successfully the fence
must keep the lava from reaching the house. For
increased difficulty tell students that in order to
successfully complete the challenge no lava should
pass through the fence.
• At the end of the challenge have students complete
the reflection questions.
©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO ENGINEERING
Instructions (Continued):
• Students can also complete the writing extension
activity by either writing what they learned about
volcanoes or writing a fiction story about a volcano.
©CarlyAndAdam
VOLCANO ENGINEERING
Teacher Instructions: EXAMPLES
©CarlyAndAdam
Dear Students,
You are an engineer that has been given the responsibility
to design a volcano proof fence. Your designs will be
studied by other engineers in order to protect houses from
lava damage in the event of a volcano.
Your fence will be tested in order to see how it protects a
house against lava. You will build your fence inside of a tin
pan. The fence must be the length of 1 popsicle stick on
each side, and you may not use the side of the tin pan as
part of your fence.
You will have 10 minutes to plan your design individually and
10 minutes to plan as a team. Your team will have 30 minutes
to construct your fence. At the end of the time limit your
fence will be tested.
In order to create your fence you may use the following
materials: 8 popsicle sticks, 1 yard of tape, and 1 container of
Play-Doh. Good luck!
©CarlyAndAdam
Name:_______________________
VOLCANO ENGINEERING
My Design:
©CarlyAndAdam
Name:_______________________
VOLCANO ENGINEERING
My Group’s Design:
©CarlyAndAdam
Name:_______________________
VOLCANO ENGINEERING
How will you use your materials?
__________________________________________________________
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How will you be sure that your fence will stop the
volcano?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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What possible problems could come up during
construction?
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__________________________________________________________
©CarlyAndAdam
Name:_______________________
VOLCANO ENGINEERING
What about your design worked well?
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If you were to do this STEM challenge again
what would you do differently?
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How did your group work together? What was
your role in the group?
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©CarlyAndAdam
My Volcano Story
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©CarlyAndAdam
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©CarlyAndAdam
My Volcano Story
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©CarlyAndAdam
Volcano Facts
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©CarlyAndAdam
Volcano Facts
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©CarlyAndAdam
Carly and Adam
ABOUT US
Carly is a 3rd grade teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her
professional experience includes: 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grades,
both private school and public schools.
Adam is a bow tie maker and owner of Speicher Tie
Company. He helps with the business side of Teachers Pay
Teachers.
TERMS OF USE
All pages of this product are copyrighted. You may not
create anything to sell from this packet or share any
part of it. This product is licensed for use in one
classroom only. If you would like to share with colleagues
you will need to purchase additional licenses or send them
to Carly and Adam's TPT store.
©CarlyAndAdam
Carly and Adam
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CREDITS
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