Class Moon Activities Week 5

Week 5 was all about volcanism and how it helped shape and evolved on the lunar surface throughout history. Here are the weekly activities for this week.

Gelatin volcanoes/Gelatin volcanoes -student sheet

This activity fits well in Grade 7 Unit E: Planet Earth
Outcomes for Science, Technology and Society (STS) and Knowledge
Students will:
1. Describe and demonstrate methods used in the scientific study of Earth and in observing and interpreting its component materials
• investigate and interpret evidence that Earth’s surface undergoes both gradual and sudden change (e.g., recognize earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides as examples of sudden change; recognize glacial erosion and river erosion as examples of gradual/incremental change)
• interpret models that show a layered structure for Earth’s interior; and describe, in general terms, evidence for such models
• identify and explain the purpose of different tools and techniques used in the study of Earth (e.g., describe and explain the use of seismographs and coring drills, as well as tools and techniques for the close examination of rocks; describe methods used in oil and gas exploration)
2. Identify evidence for the rock cycle, and use the rock cycle concept to interpret and explain the characteristics of particular rocks
• describe characteristics of the three main classes of rocks—igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic—and describe evidence of their formation (e.g., describe evidence of igneous rock formation, based on the study of rocks found in and around volcanoes)

Lava layering

This activity can be used in either the Grade 7 Unit E: Planet Earth or Grade 8 Unit A: Mix and Flow in Matter
Grade 7 Outcomes:
Outcomes for Science, Technology and Society (STS) and Knowledge
Students will:
1. Describe and demonstrate methods used in the scientific study of Earth and in observing and
interpreting its component materials
• investigate and interpret evidence that Earth’s surface undergoes both gradual and sudden change (e.g., recognize earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides as examples of sudden change; recognize glacial erosion and river erosion as examples of gradual/incremental change)
• interpret models that show a layered structure for Earth’s interior; and describe, in general terms, evidence for such models

Analyzing and Interpreting
Students will:
Analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and develop and assess possible explanations
• predict the value of a variable, by interpolating or extrapolating from data (e.g., determine
the quantity of sediment carried over a half-hour period, then extrapolate the amount that would be carried if the time were extended to a day, month, year or millennium)
Performing and Recording
Students will:
Conduct investigations into the relationships between and among observations, and gather and record qualitative and quantitative data
• carry out procedures, controlling the major variables
• estimate measurements (e.g., estimate the thickness of sedimentary layers)

Grade 8 Outcomes
Investigate and compare the properties of gases and liquids; and relate variations in their viscosity, density, buoyancy and compressibility to the particle model of matter
• investigate and compare fluids, based on their viscosity and flow rate, and describe the effects of temperature change on liquid flow
Performing and Recording
Students will:
Conduct investigations into the relationships between and among observations, and gather and record qualitative and quantitative data
• carry out procedures, controlling the major variables (e.g., carry out a test of the viscosity of different fluids)

Students could change and test the viscosity of different types of lava and how that changes the formation of layers.

Another way this could be used is to estimate/measure and calculate the surface area of each lava layer. This idea of surface area calculations would fit in the Grade 9 Math program of studies.