Volcanoes

On a clear day, we can see a volcano from Port Angeles. That volcano (Mt. Baker) owes its existence to the subduction zone event that created the Olympic Peninsula.

Part 1: Supervolcano

Watch the Supervolcano movie. While watching, complete the Supervolcano assignment sheet.

Optional: Watch the History Channel Yellowstone and National Geographic Mt. Rainier videos (45 min each).

Part 2: Introduction to Volcanoes

Create the following table in your journal.

Individually, read pp. 229-231 in Catastrophic Events and complete the table.
Then work w/your group to sort the 9 volcano cards into the 3 volcano types.
When you finish, read "Mt. St. Helens Erupts" on pp. 258-263 of the book.

(Optional: Here at the very bottom of this document is a printable table to fill in).

Answer Key for Volcano Card Sorting:

Shield:

1, Manua Loa, HI
4, Isle San Martin, Mexico
6, Darwin Volcano, Ecuador

Composite:

2, Mayon, Philippenes
5, Klinchevskoi, Russia
9, Mt. Hood, OR

Cinder Cone:

3, Tolbachik, Russia
7, Paricutin, Mexico
8, Wizard Island, Crater Lake, OR

Part 3: Chocolate Volcanoes

You will create models of the three volcano types (shield, cinder cone, and composite). Then you will eat them.

See the detailed instructions for more information. For lava, make a chocolate ganache with ~equal parts chocolate (~4 x 12 oz bags) and heavy whipping cream (~1 quart). Use 3-4 boxes of cinnamon graham crackers for ash. This will give 40 cups of ash and 40 cups of lava for 1 teacher for 1 day.

Part 4: Igneous Rocks Lab

Follow the instructions on pp. 232-235 of Catastrophic Events to complete the lab with your table group members. Each student completes the Igneous Rocks Lab sheet.

As a class, read page 232 together, then the teacher shows peridotite to illustrate crystals in igneous rock and demonstrates the basic flow of the lab.
With your table members, follow directions on pages 234-235 to run the lab.
Each student completes their own Igneous Rocks Lab sheet.

If you finish early, complete the reflection questions on p. 235 of the Catastrophic Events book and read "Roaring Demons, Raging Giants" on pp. 236-239 of the Catastrophic Events book.

Part 5: Igneous Rock Cystallization

To set up the lab (1st day):

Class discussion: igneous rocks form when magma or lava cools down and crystallizes. Today we investigate how the rate of cooling affects the crystal size.
Groups get lab bins with black paper, ruler, rocks 1-5, magnifiers, petri dish, and 1/2 sheet of white paper with a tape loop on it.
Students use magnifiers to observe crystal shape and size of rocks 1, 2, &5 and some magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) provided by the teacher.
Each student writes a "Hypothesis" on the Igneous Rock Crystallization Lab sheet.
Once your entire group has written a full hypothesis, your group decides whether to do a "fast," "slow," or "slow then fast" petri dish.
With pencil, write "fast," "slow," or "slow then fast" then bring your petri dish to the materials at the front of the room.
Use a pipette to put a small amount of red liquid into the petri dish and put your petri dish in the appropriate location.
1. Fast goes immediately in freezer
2. Slow goes in bin in classroom
3. Slow then fast goes in bin in classroom (and then to freezer later)

Note this follows the instructions on pp. 240-243 of Catastrophic Events. Teacher will give you specific modifications to the instructions for set up.

To run the lab (2nd day):

Use the magnifiers, ruler and black paper (slide the black paper under the petri dishes) to observe the "slow," "fast," and "slow then fast" crystallized petri dishes.
Compare the crystals in your petri dishes to the crystals in rocks 1 - 5.
Do diagrams, measurements & answers on the Igneous Rock Crystallization sheet.
Finish the Igneous Rock Crystallization sheet including a full 4-point conclusion.

Igneous Rock Types:

Basalt (extrusive - crystallizes outside Earth)
Granite (intrusive - crystallizes inside Earth)
Obsidian (extrusive - crystallizes outside Earth)
Gabbro (intrusive - crystallizes inside Earth)
Rhyolite (extrusive - crystallizes outside Earth)

With you group, discuss your responses to the following questions.

- - - - How quickly or slowly do you think igneous rocks form under the earth's surface? What type of rock might this form?
        How quickly or slowly do you think igneous rocks form on the earth's surface? What type of rock might this form?
        If fast-cooling lava forms fine-grained volcanic rocks such as basalt, why aren't all volcanic rocks basalt?
        How do you think each of your igneous rocks formed?

When you finish, read "Earth's Waterworks" and "The Rock Cycle" on pp. 246-251 of the Catastrophic Events book.

Teacher Notes: mix ~300mL water, ~300mL magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) and red food coloring in a glass beaker/hot pot double boiler and use a large pipette to put it into the petri dishes.

Part 6: Bill Nye Volcanoes

Is is possible that this is our first Bill Nye video of the entire year so far?

Watch Bill Nye Volcanoes (season 4, episode 14).

While watching, complete the Bill Nye Volcanoes questions.

Part 7: Viscosity Lab

Follow the instructions on pp. 217-220 of the Catastrophic Events book to complete the lab.

Complete the Viscosity Lab sheet.

Volcanoes Extension 1 (*): Hawaii Eruptions

Watch the underwater eruptions video.

Then watch the Hawaii Volcano Eruption from NBC News.

Search for news or information about the 2018 Hawaiian volcano eruptions.

Prepare and then present to the class a 10-20 minute lesson on the 2018 Hawaiian volcano eruptions.