Last updated: October 29, 2018
Lesson Plan
Let's Talk Lava
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- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 6-8.RST.3, 6-8.RST.9
- State Standards:
- New Mexico State Standards: Understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting, and validating to think critically.
- Thinking Skills:
- Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts.
Essential Question
What are the characteristics and compositions of lava at Capulin Volcano?
Objective
Students will be able to describe physical characteristics of lava rock including color, shape, and texture. The students will also be able to identify Spatter, Scoria, Aā, P ā hoehoe, density, and viscosity in terms of lava at Capulin.
Background
The name Capulin means chokecherry in Spanish. This volcano is part of the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field. Capulin Volcano erupted between 56,000 and 62,000 years ago, resulting in the formation of a cinder cone. As it erupted, Capulin shot up fountains of molten rock into the air. Spatter, cinders and bombs were deposited near the vent to form the cone. The latter stages of the eruption occurred at the flank of the cone, rafting a piece of the cone away from the base and forming the Boca area. Continued eruptions in this area produced lava lakes, tubes, and cascades; a spatter cone; and flows that formed levees. The four lava flows that cover 16 square miles around the cinder cone were produced from these eruptions in the Boca area.
Capulin’s volcanic rock is primarily basalt. Capulin’s basaltic lava’s natural color is black. Because it contains iron, it sometimes appears red as the iron oxidizes (rusts). Because of this iron content, Capulin’s scoriaceous lava will not float in water the way pumice sometimes will. If it is filled with holes, Capulin’s volcanic rock is called scoria or described as vesicular basalt.
Lava is described using Hawaiian words: p ā hoehoe is smoother, ropy looking and Aā is more blocky or jagged. Usually, if found at Capulin, p ā hoehoe is nearer to the vent while Aā is more often found distant from the vent at the ends of the flow.
Preparation
Materials Needed
Clipboard with worksheet and blank paper for notes and drawings.
Pencils and markers for drawing pictures of Capulin’s volcano, lava, and minerals.
Background information sheet, park brochures.
Rock samples: P ā hoehoe, Aā, bomb, scoria, pumice, spatter
Pictures: P ā hoehoe, Aā, bomb, scoria, pumice, spatter
Condiment packages
Materials
The Complete Activity Guide and answer sheet for lesson plan
Worksheets to be completed by students for lesson plan
Download Let's Talk Lava Worksheets
Procedure
Activities – DENSITY
Explain density – definition on vocabulary sheet
Procedure:
1. Remove all items from plastic tub and fill with water.
2. Divide students into small groups as necessary. Be sure someone in each group has a watch which includes measuring seconds.
3. Have each group choose one of the provided objects: sponge, nail, piece of wood, penny, pencil, scoria, pumice.
4. Each group should record on their Density Table their estimates for the time it will take the object to sink in the tub of water.
5. Time and record actual time for the object to sink on chart. If object floats, record in floats section.
6. Have groups trade objects. If activity is going well, have students find additional objects – on the ground, in their pockets, etc.
Activity – Compare and Contrast
Procedure:
1. Divide students into small groups as necessary.
2. Each group should select a sample rock from the kit.
3. Students should draw their rock and write a description, including color, texture, weight, appearance.
4. Each group presents its rock to the rest of the class.
5. Teacher uses vocabulary words and rock photos to help each group identify and classify their rock in geologic terms.
Activity- Viscosity
Procedure:
1. Divide students into small groups as necessary.
2. Provide each group with a condiment package.
3. Have one student in each group act as timekeeper.
4. Students should open packages and start the condiment flowing down plastic covered cardboard from start line.
5. Timekeeper should time flow until it reaches finish line.
6. Compare results – which condiments flow easily, which don’t flow at all?
7. Have students make a chart of condiments and flow times. Change the angle of the plastic covered cardboard. Does this change the rate of flow?
8. Discuss the definition of viscosity – which condiments were more or less viscous? Can viscosity be changed? How? (warm honey flows more easily than cold)
9. Compare the Aā and P ā hoehoe rock samples. Look at the shape and texture of the rocks. Discuss how they flowed. Which one was more viscous? Discuss the definitions of Aā and P ā hoehoe provided. Which condiment do you think best demonstrates the viscosity of Aā and which that of P ā hoehoe?
Vocabulary
1. Capulin means chokecherry in Spanish.
2. Capulin erupted between 56,000 and 62,000 years ago.
3. The eruption at Capulin resulted in the formation of
a cinder cone.
4. Lava nearer the vent may be p ā hoehoe or ropy.
5. Farther from the vent or near the end of a flow, lava is usually Aā or jagged.
6. The word viscosity means stickiness.
7. Capulin’s lava is basaltic.
8. Some of the lava at Capulin is called scoria because it contains many
small air pockets formed when gases in the lava escaped into the air.
9. If lava is still molten when it lands it forms spatter. If it is already solid, it is called a bomb.
10. Pumice is usually less dense with smaller vesicles than scoria.