Volcano project stimulates first-hand learning (VIDEO)

Daniel Moore • December 5, 2012

Every year, junior high science teacher Terry Richards assigns his eighth grade science class to construct and erupt model volcanos. During second period, Richards took his class out to the North field for the eruptions, Dec. 3.

The volcanos are made with paper-mache or newspaper and foil. A mixture of baking soda and vinegar, or soda and mentos, causes the volcanos to foam up, simulating an eruption.The project is part of the volcano unit in Richard’s earth science class.

According to Richards, the volcano project helps the students understand some of the science behind volcanic activity.

“It’s a culmination of our study of volcanos and volcanic activity,” Richards said. “Every student makes their own volcano. There are three kinds: cinder cone, shield or composite volcanos. It needs to be eruptable and they need to know about their kind of volcano. I’m hoping that it solidifies what students have learned in class through studying the volcanos.”

Richards says that while volcanic eruptions can be good, they can also cause serious damage.

“Volcanos are both constructive and destructive to the earth,” Richards said. “Ash and lava from volcanos helps to build up land mass. For example, the Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanos. Volcanos can also cause destruction, like in the Italian town of Pompei.”

Eighth grader Will Vander Kooi found the process of building the volcanos to be enjoyable and felt that the whole project was amusing.

“We made the volcanos out of papier mache or newspaper covered in foil, and we painted them,” Vanderkooi said. “After we set up the volcanos we sat back and watched them erupt. It was pretty fun.”

According to senior Nick Baladjanian, the volcano project brought back memories of junior high.

“I remember the volcano project,” Baladjanian said. “It was pretty fun; I liked making the volcanos erupt. It helped me to learn about how volcanic eruptions worked.”

After completing the project, eighth grader Timothy Melendez said that he enjoyed watching the volcanos erupt and felt that the project went very well.

“The volcano project went well,” Melendez said. “It was pretty cool seeing the volcanos erupt. I think it was a good way to learn about volcanos.”

Jennifer King, ’17, found it interesting to learn about the different types of volcanos and took pleasure in attempting to make her volcano erupt.

“It helped us learn a lot more about volcanos,” King said. “We learned about the three types of volcanos, like composite, shield or cinder cone. We had to make the volcanos erupt somehow; that was the most fun.”