This is a STEM activity that deals with engineering the lava and the volcano design while setting up a town that will need to be protected from the eruptions.

Students will follow the Washington State End of Course Assessment format for Design Applications. They will design their projects around two problems:

Problem 1: Build a model of a volcano that will erupt and will not cause damage on your model town. Build the town in the area least likely to get damage.

Problem 2: Create lava that will have a viscosity that causes the least damage as it erupts and flows toward your town.

Students will do the following in their design:

Research the Problem

Gather Information

Explore Ideas - Done with hands on experiments

Plan Summary

Test Solutions

Test Results

Optimize their design

Identify Unintended Consequences with Volcano Evacuations

Identify Constraints with Volcano Evacuations

OVERVIEW OF PROJECT:(Can edit to omit parts not wanted)

In a container, the students will build a clay volcano with a film canister in the crater that will hold their magma they create using a base of baking soda and vinegar. They can experiment with the viscosity of the magma using dish soap, corn syrup, different temperatures of water or any other materials you want to provide.

They will then use monopoly houses to build a town around their volcano in the "safest places" they feel they will not get hit by the lava.

After the volcanoes erupt, they will use a damage cost sheet to add up the cost of damage based on the amount of lava that hits the houses and buildings.

Materials needed:

Monopoly houses ( I ordered them off amazon)

Modeling clay

Film Canisters (50 ml beakers can be used)

Baking soda

Vinegar

Dish Soap

Corn Syrup

Other materials to affect the viscosity if wanted