Extension ideas for 'Party time for volcanoes' and 'Blow up for own volcano'

The chart above shows some results for 'Party time for volcanoes'. These have been published on our website in the extension material for this activity. As you can see 3.5kg is the weight to beat!
Backyard volcano has also been published as an extension idea to 'Blow up your own volcano'.
These are just two of the many hands-on practical ideas you can use to demonstrate volcanic activity - search our website for more.

Latest Earthlearningidea is 'Danger - quicksands!'

The new ELI this week is 'Danger - quicksands! Why do some rocks give way when it rains hard?' This activity investigates pore water pressure in a sediment and demonstrates how raised pore water pressure can weaken apparently strong rocks/sediments, causing subsidence in buildings or landslides. This ELI could be used to illustrate hazards of a geological nature, in a science or geography lesson.
This is one of many hands-on practical activities in both the Earth Energy and Natural Hazards Earthlearningidea categories.

Solar eclipse

Have you tried 'Why does the sun disappear?' This activity demonstrates what happens when the Moon hides the Sun. After carrying out this ELI, pupils can appreciate that the Sun and the Moon are of vastly different sizes even though, when they appear in
the sky together, they seem to be of comparable diameter. They can explain that a small object that is near the Earth can block out a much larger object that is much further away. Also, they can do simple calculations to work out the model Sun's diameter.
This is one of the activities in the category 'Earth in space'. Can you add any more ideas?

Fifth in our mapwork from models series - folded rocks

Our mapwork from models series continues with investigating areas with folded rocks. Pupils use the four block models from previous exercises to draw in and appreciate how folded geological structures appear on landforms of increasing complexity.
The images shown here come from the ELI 'Himalayas in 30 seconds'.
For lots more Earth-related activities, most requiring minimal resources, visit our website.

'Volcanic eruption' challenge

One of the members of our support group from the British Geological Survey reports that he has been using the ELI 'Party time for volcanoes: how much force does it take to set off a party popper 'volcano'? at the World Skills 2011 event in London. He thinks a new world record has been set! Tori from Esher High School managed to load 3.5kg on one popper before it 'erupted'. He adds that he does not think there's anything particularly robust about the poppers that were being used; the others have given results from 400g to 1900g with an average of about 1150g. This just shows that accurate prediction of a volcanic eruption remains almost impossible and it is seldom possible to give precise timings of anticipated events, to allow the evacuation of populations to safety.
So - 3.5kg is the record so far unless - - - - - ?

Groundwater - pollution model

Have you tried 'From rain to spring: water from the ground'? This ELI activity demonstrates how water flows through the ground - and how it can be used and polluted. Pupils pour water into the cups and try to predict where a 'spring' will appear. Then try burying some toxic waste at different depths and ask the pupils to predict where it will appear. Download the activity for the full details. There is a short video which shows the activity in action although it is quite hard to notice the 'pollution'. To view this, go to our Resources and Environment category and click on 'video' for this activity. If anyone can send us a better video clip, we would be grateful!
This is one of over a hundred free-to-download Earth-related activities on our website.