Even though volcanoes look alike, they can be very different based on the types of lava that erupts from their surface. Learn about strata volcanoes, shield volcanoes, and the varying viscosity of lava with an engaging hands-on activity. Having filled up cups with honey and juice, third graders blow into straws to demonstrate the ways that disruption to plate tectonics can result in volcanic eruptions.

Concepts

earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics

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Additional Tags

earthquakes, volcanoes, science

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Classroom Considerations

• The activity is messy and sticky; consider performing the experiment outside, over a sink, or on plastic-lined desks
• While the lesson references earthquakes, it focuses more on the characteristics of volcanoes

Pros

• Provides links to create background knowledge
• Lesson is fun and illustrative to the topic

Cons

• None