Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education Chemical Engineering: K.L.1 Volcanoes Grade Level Sessions Seasonality Instructional Mode(s) Team Size WPS Benchmarks MA Frameworks Key Words K Part 1: 30 min Part 2: 30 min N/A Whole class N/A 0K.SC.IS.01 0K.SC.IS.02 0K.SC.IS.03 0K.SC.IS.05 0K.SC.IS.06 0K.SC.ES.01 K-2.ES.1 K-2.TE.2.0 Chemicals, Lava, Reaction, Volcanoes Summary This lesson will introduce the students to chemical engineering by means of creating a volcano. In the first part, students will be shown pictures of actual volcanoes and background material will be presented to the students to familiarize them with volcanoes. They will then create a town that will later be destroyed by the volcano. The students will be able to help create the volcano. They will then observe a simple chemical reaction and see that when chemicals are mixed together, a different substance, a product, is formed. Students will later discuss their observations as a class and review what they have learned and depict what they learn by drawing their own model of a volcano. Learning Objectives 2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Kindergarten 0K.SC.IS.01: Ask questions about objects, organisms, and events in the environment. 0K.SC.IS.02: Tell about why and what would happen if? 0K.SC.IS.03: Make predictions based on observed patterns. 0K.SC.IS.05: Record observations and data with pictures, numbers or written statements. - 1 -
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education 0K.SC.IS.06: Discuss observations with others. 0K.SC.ES.01: Recognize that water, rocks, soil, and living organisms are found on the earth s surface. 2001 Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework K-2.ES.1: Recognize that water, rocks, soil, and living organisms are found on the earth s surface. K-2.TE.2.0: Engineering Design. Additional Learning Objectives 1. Understand volcanoes and the process by which volcanic eruptions occur 2. Recognize what lava is 3. Identify what a chemical reaction is Required Background Knowledge None Essential Questions 1. What is a volcano? 2. What is a chemical reaction? Introduction / Motivation Consider using this lesson as part of a unit on the Earth s processes to allow students to group volcanoes with other natural occurrences such as earthquakes and tornadoes. Procedure Part I 30 minutes (Before the lesson: the instructor will obtain a cardboard box from a supermarket and cut the sides of it off, leaving a shallow box. Alternatively, a teacher may obtain a shallow box used to carry 4 six packs of soda.) - 2 -
The instructor will: Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education 1. Explain to students that they will help to build a town. 2. Ask students to draw and color in various objects found in a town (i.e. Houses, fences, trees, etc). 3. Have the students attach the objects they draw to the cardboard using glue or tape. 4. Explain to the children what volcanoes are and the fact that volcanic eruptions occur because of chemical reactions. Be sure to explain that lava forms as a result of a volcano. (Explain that chemical engineers use chemicals all the time to create their final products.) 5. Show the students pictures of different volcanoes, and ask them to discuss what they see in the pictures (i.e. the parts of the volcano). Pictures are attached to this lesson. 6. Review what students have learned and inform them that they will help to create a volcano in the classroom next week. Part II 30 minutes The instructor will: 1. Review material taught last week, ensuring that students understand what a volcano is. 2. Create a volcano out of the modeling clay, ensuring that there is a cup shaped hole. An example of a clay volcano model can be found with the pictures attached to this lesson. 3. Place the volcano on the town. 4. Mix the ingredients (baking soda, dish detergent, red food coloring) listed in the materials list in a small bowl mixing with the spoon (until it is a thick, but runny goo). 5. Spoon the goo into the top of the volcano. 6. Add small amounts of vinegar to the volcano, and observe what happens. - 3 -
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education 7. Add more goo and vinegar as needed or wanted to possibly cover the whole town in the lava. Be sure to explain that the pink goo is in fact what the lava looks like in a real volcano. 8. Discuss that the lava is made of chemicals that are formed because of a reaction between the goo and the vinegar. 9. If the town is let to sit for a while in a warm place the lava will evaporate and crystals may form. 10. Review what occurred in the classroom. 11. (If time permits) Have students draw a picture of their own volcanoes. Materials List Materials per class Amount Location Modeling clay Teacher discretion Craft store, dollar store Baking soda Teacher discretion Supermarket, dollar store Dish detergent Teacher discretion Supermarket, dollar store Red food coloring Teacher discretion Supermarket White vinegar Teacher discretion Supermarket Bowl 1 Household, dollar store Mixing spoon 1 Household, dollar store Cardboard 1 Free at supermarket Pictures of Volcanoes Teacher discretion World wide web, science textbooks Materials per student Amount Location None Vocabulary with Definitions 1. Chemicals A substance used for, or produced by a reaction. 2. Lava Melted rock that reaches the earth's surface through a volcano. 3. Reaction A change in which a substance breaks down, combines with other substance(s), or changes into other substances. 4. Volcanoes An opening in the earth s crust through which lava exits. Assessment / Evaluation of Students The instructor may assess the students in any/all of the following manners: - 4 -
Partnerships Implementing Engineering Education 1. Ask students to define the keywords. 2. Ask questions pertaining to the lesson objectives. 3. Observe the volcanoes that they draw. Lesson Extensions The instructor might incorporate this lesson into a unit on the Earth s surfaces in order to allow students to learn that volcanoes and the materials they emit are found on the surface of the Earth. Attachments 1. Images of volcanoes Troubleshooting Tips If the simple volcano does not work, try mixing the ingredients as discussed above and place them in a soda bottle surrounded by the clay. Test the volcano before trying it in class to help ensure that the ingredients chosen will actually work. Safety Issues Students ought to handle glue, scissors, and other tools properly. Additional Resources None Key Words Chemicals, Lava, Reaction, Volcanoes - 5 -
The volcano images below were taken from the Volcano World website found at http://volcano.und.edu/. Example of a clay Volcano (it can be made out of one or multiple colors)