Group name: ____________________________________ Section: ___________
Members Surname: __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Experiment Activity: Volcano Simulation
Safety Reminders:
Conduct the activity outdoors or on a covered table to avoid mess.
Do not lean too close to the crater when pouring vinegar.
Clean up spilled materials immediately.
Objectives:
1. Understand how pressure builds up inside a volcano.
2. Demonstrate how chemical reactions can mimic natural volcanic eruptions.
3. Identify parts of a volcano and how lava flows.
4. Encourage creativity through modeling and design.
Materials:
1 small plastic bottle (this will serve as the volcano’s crater)
Modeling clay or homemade dough (to shape the volcano)
Old News Paper (for structure / frame to support or additional decorations)
Baking soda
Vinegar ( dyed with red food color)
Red, brown, green, and other paints (for realistic coloring)
Disposable plates or a sturdy cardboard base (to hold the volcano and catch the eruption)
Optional: dishwashing liquid, red food coloring (for more dramatic lava effect),colored sand
Procedure:
1. Prepare the Base
o Place the plastic bottle at the center of a plate or sturdy platform.
o Secure it using tape or clay so it stands firmly.
2. Shape the Volcano
o Use paper to shape the frame of the volcano, secure it using tape of glue, then clay to mold the
cone of the volcano around the bottle.
o Leave the top of the bottle uncovered to act as the crater where the eruption happens.
3. Add Details
o Use paper to create rocks, trees, or small landforms around the volcano.
o Smoothen the clay and form ridges to make it look realistic.
4. Paint the Volcano
o Paint the volcano brown or gray for the rocks.
o Add red streaks to show dried lava, and green areas for vegetation.
o Let it dry completely.
5. Prepare the Eruption Mixture
o Put 2–3 tablespoons of baking soda into the bottle.
o Add a small amount of dishwashing liquid for a thicker, foamy eruption or small amount of
colored sand.
o Add red food coloring to the vinegar for lava-like color place it on separate container.
6. Erupt the Volcano
o Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle and step back.
o Watch the bubbly “lava” erupt and flow down the volcano!
Guide Questions:
1. What did you observe when the vinegar mixed with the baking soda inside the volcano?
2. Why do you think this reaction caused the “eruption”?
3. How does the movement of the foamy lava in the model compare to how real lava flows from an
actual volcano?
4. Which parts of the volcano were clearly shown in your model (crater, cone, vent, slopes, etc.)?
5. How did you design them to look realistic?
6. How did adding colored sand, dish soap, or paint enhance the eruption or appearance of your
volcano?
7. If you could improve your volcano model, what changes would you make to make the eruption more
realistic or more dramatic?
Rubric for rating your model: Total: 20 points
Criteria 4 – Excellent 3 – Proficient 2 – Developing 1 – Beginning
Volcano is neat,
Volcano is detailed,
shaped well, and Volcano is simple Volcano is
Creativity & Design (4 realistic, well-shaped
includes with limited details incomplete or lacks
pts) with clear parts; shows
recognizable and creativity. structure.
exceptional creativity.
parts.
Model clearly shows
Some parts
parts of a volcano; Most parts shown Parts are missing or
Accuracy of Concept (4 unclear;
eruption demonstrates correctly; eruption incorrect; limited
pts) understanding is
strong understanding of is mostly accurate. understanding.
partial.
the concept.
Minor errors but Did not follow
Followed all steps Several steps
Execution of Procedure generally procedure or
carefully and safely; missed or
(4 pts) followed steps eruption failed due
eruption worked well. incorrectly done.
correctly. to errors.
Participated Participated Limited
Actively contributed,
Teamwork/Participation consistently and sometimes, needed participation, did
collaborated well, helped
(4 pts) worked well with reminders to stay not cooperate
group succeed.
group. on task. consistently.
Clean workspace; Mostly clean; Some mess left; Workspace messy;
Cleanliness & Safety (4
followed all safety minor reminders needed frequent safety reminders
pts)
reminders responsibly. needed. reminders. often ignored.
Name: _______________________________________________________ Grade & Section: ___
Individual Activity
A. Identify the Parts of a Volcano (Write the letter)
A. Crater B. Cone C. Vent D. Lava flow E. Ash / Pyroclastic flow F. Magma Chamber
_____ 1. The opening at the top where lava comes out
_____ 2. The large underground pool of molten rock beneath the volcano
______3. The main body or shape of the volcano
_____ 4. The path where magma travels upward
_____ 5. The melted rock flowing outside the volcano
_____ 6. The debris and materials expelled during eruption
B. Multiple Choice. Encircle the letter of your correct answer.
7.. The “eruption” in the experiment happened because of the reaction between:
a. Clay and baking soda b. Vinegar and baking soda c. Paint and vinegar d. Sand and clay
8. Adding dishwashing liquid makes the eruption:
a. Stop completely b. Produce more foam c. Change color d. Harden the clay
9. What is the purpose of adding red food coloring?
a. To model realistic lava b. To make the vinegar less acidic
c. To make the clay soft d. To prevent eruption
C. Short Answer
10. Why do real volcanoes erupt? How does your model represent what happens inside a real volcano?