Term 4: Geology, Fuels and Climate


Earth Science and Geology

Week 1: Convection Currents and Tectonic Plates

  • In groups of 2-3, complete the experiment on Scipad page 207 which will demonstrate convection currents. Theses are the same currents that cause magma under the earth's crust to move, which the Tectonic Plates rest on. This video shows the effect well. If yours does not work use this to fill in the page.

  • Cut out the convection current spiral and attach your spiral to a stick. Place over a lit tealight candle, DO NOT BURN the paper. Record your observations.

  • In pairs, cut out the puzzling plates activity and organise them onto a red piece of paper with a glue stick. Then: Label the plates correctly in pen, research the 5 biggest volcanoes and 5 largest earthquakes in modern history (Past 100 years) and label these on the plates map. Blog a photo of this and explain what you see about the placement of these volcanoes and earthquakes.

  • Finish pages 205 - 209 in the SciPad. If this is all complete, head on to SciPad online for some revision.

Week 2: Seismic activity and Volcanoes

  • In groups of 4s, complete a mix and match activity. Swap over and do a second one!

In groups of up to four you must record your progress in this project in a Blog. Here are the questions and tasks you must do:

  • Pick a well known volcano in the world. Where is it, what is its name, is it extinct, dormant or active?

  • What type of volcano is it? How are these types formed, include a diagram of what they look like.

  • What are the types of rock formations around this volcano.

  • What plate boundary is this volcano near?

  • Plan your model. What are you going to make it out of, how will you make it erupt, what landscape will you paint on it. Who will bring what.

Week 3: Volcano Project

Remember to update you blog with progress of your volcano!

  • BUILD IT! Bring a bottle and construct your volcano from Paper Mache. Record each step of the construction. What shape have you chosen? What colours are you going to paint it? What is the landscape around your volcano? What sort of rock types would you find in and around the area?

  • Pick the reaction that you will use when erupting your volcano and write a detailed equipment and method list using AIM, HYPOTHESIS, EQUIPMENT, METHOD and space for RESULTS and DISCUSSION.

  • What will you do to ensure your volcano eruption is impressive. Write down the chemicals and try making a symbol or word equation.

  • Record it erupting and share.

  • Complete SCIPAD pages 210 and 213 to finish off volcanoes.


Week 4: Earthquakes and Tsunamis


Week 5: The Rock Cycle

  • Finish SCIPAD pages 219 - 221.

  • Complete the rock detector activity and be able to name and tell the difference between a variety of rocks.

  • Finish SCIPAD topic revision pages 222 - 224.


Earth Science Project:

Ideas you can look into: The Rock Cycle, Seismographs, Tsunami Warning Systems or Surfing , Geothermal activity, Pumice Hokey Pokey Activity,

Share your knowledge in the form of: A song, a video, an animation or poster.

Or... Inquiry into a science conspiracy. Is the Earth Flat, Is the Earth Hollow, Santorini Volcano and Dinosaur Extinction.


Fuels and the Climate

Fuels - Combustion - Fire Safety - Climate Change - Clean Energy

Week 1: Fuels and Combustion

Blog topics: Spud Guns, Pringles Can Hydrogen Explosion

Experiment: House Fires and Fire Safety

In a Blog Research and Answer these questions individually. Use the links to find information.

  1. How do bush fires start and how has climate change made them more common?

  2. What are 3 ways you could fire proof your house if you lived in an area likely to get bush fires?

  3. When something burns it combusts, what is the difference between complete and incomplete combustion?

Your scenario: You are designing a house in California near a forest that is known for bush fires. It is a small home where a baby lives by itself. Strange. The baby has asked you to fireproof the interior of the house so that in a fire it can survive the flames if the house were to burn down. The baby loves cooking so unfortunately there must be a gas cylinder attached to the exterior of the house.

You can now take the house cutout sheet and colour and make the house. In pairs prepare a small paper house. Your house must:

  1. Be made from paper and have nothing covering it.

  2. Have a fuel source outside (polystyrene and alcohol).

  3. Have one window open so that you can see inside.

  4. You may use materials to protect the room inside, however you may not cover the open window. It must still look like a room.

  5. A paper baby in the room.

Next lesson: Test your house! On a heat mat, touch a lit match to your fuel source.

Results: Write a summary of how your house burnt down and think about these questions:

  1. How did the window affect the spread of fire?

  2. Did the fuel cause the fire to spread into your fireproofed room?

  3. Was your fireproofing effective therefore?

Energy generation (Oil running out, Alternatives: Solar, Chlorophyll vs Panels, Nuclear, Wind, Tidal, Electric Cars, Lego Power Challenge)

Building a generator, class project!

Using either Lego or a generator kit with magnets and wires, construct a device that uses the power of either; the wind, the sun or water to do mechanical or electrical work. This must be conducted in research project. Record your progress

  • Begin by researching different types of generators and how each of the sources of energy are harnessed in the real world.

  • Pick a concept that can be scaled down E.g. using a leaf blower, running tap or small solar panel.

  • Draw up or plan a prototype for your device, including what sort of work it will be doing E.g. running a light bulb, turning a cog, lifting a platform etc.

  • Start building and record each iteration. Record through videos, pictures, diagrams.

  • You may use whatever you may find in the class with the teachers permission.


Extension Research Topics: Bio fuels (Research, Milk Plastics, Distillation of Oil or Meths, Carbon Zero footprint)