If you take part in any of the below activities, why not drop us a picture on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram? We'd love to see what you create!
The Earth's Structure
The Earth is made up of four layers - the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust. The inner and outer core are both made up of iron and nickel. The mantle is a fundamentally solid layer but, because of the Earth's natural heat at depth, the mantle is viscous and consequently it flows extremely slowly. The crust is a solid, relatively thin area that is made up of rocks and minerals and is the part we live on.
To help you visualise the Earth's structure, this activity from The Crafty Classroom requires playdough, a paper plate and a butter knife. You will be able to construct your own 'Earth' and slice into it to see how it is layered!
If you don't have any playdough, you can make your own! Here's a great recipe from BBC Good Food.
When rocks melt they produce magma and when this erupts or flows onto the Earth's surface it is called lava.
This experiment from Pepper and Pine requires one large glass jar, one small glass jar, water, food colouring and tongs. It explores heat distribution using coloured water of different temperatures. Pretend the hot water is magma!
This experiment from Kids Fun Science requires cardboard, sugar cubes, a pen and two pieces of wood. You will learn where the most damage usually occurs in an earthquake. Let us know your results!
To help you visualise the Earth's structure, this activity from The Crafty Classroom requires playdough, a paper plate and a butter knife. You will be able to construct your own 'Earth' and slice into it to see how it is layered!
If you don't have any playdough, you can make your own! Here's a great recipe from BBC Good Food.
The Mantle & Magma
The mantle is the thickest of the Earth's layers, making up 84% of its volume. Even though the mantle is very hot at 1500°C, the high pressures means it is mostly composed of a solid green rock called peridotite.When rocks melt they produce magma and when this erupts or flows onto the Earth's surface it is called lava.
This experiment from Pepper and Pine requires one large glass jar, one small glass jar, water, food colouring and tongs. It explores heat distribution using coloured water of different temperatures. Pretend the hot water is magma!
The Rock Cycle
The rock cycle describes how each of the three
main rock types (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) change over time.
Sedimentary rocks form when sediments from other broken down rocks are
deposited over time in areas such as lakes or oceans. They (together with igneous rocks) can be buried and subject to heat and pressure, causing the
rocks to become metamorphic. When rocks underground are heated
at high temperatures, they melt and turn into magma. This magma can cool slowly
underground forming an intrusive igneous rock or erupt onto the Earth's surface
via a volcano, forming an extrusive igneous rock.
This experiment from The Geological Society requires blocks of dark and white chocolate, source of hot water, aluminium
foil and/or aluminium foil cake cups, container to hold hot water and a simple
scraping device e.g. plastic knife. It will help you understand how each of the
rock types form.
PS: you may even be allowed to eat your rock creations after
making them!
Earthquake Epicentre Experiment
The focus is the area/point of the Earth's crust that an earthquake originates from, and where the rupture occurs. The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus.This experiment from Kids Fun Science requires cardboard, sugar cubes, a pen and two pieces of wood. You will learn where the most damage usually occurs in an earthquake. Let us know your results!
Make Your Own Volcano
Have you ever wanted make your own volcanic eruption? Well you can, with this easy to do activity!
Create some magma to sit inside the volcano and when you add baking soda, watch the lava pour out of
the crater. Can you see the fizzing and bubbles? That is because carbon
dioxide is being produced as a result of this reaction. Carbon dioxide is also
released in eruptions, but on a much larger scale.
The Geological Society's experiment requires two cups, one paper plate, silver foil, red food colouring, vinegar,
washing up liquid, bicarbonate of soda and Blu Tack.
If you have newspaper at home, you might be able to make a
paper mache version like this one from Red Ted Art.
Helpful hint: if you have waterproof varnish, paint a layer over the top of
your volcano, like in the image below, and you may be able to use it again and again!
Comments