The Eruptor

crayola supplies

Model Magic®
Construction Paper

household supplies

cardboard
cotton balls

Why?

Natural phenomena are endlessly fascinating! Create a model of an erupting volcano and let off some steam.

Steps

1. Research important facts about volcanoes. How do they erupt? What was the biggest eruption ever known? What famous cities have been buried under volcanoes?
2. Where is the volcano nearest you? Pinpoint locations of volcanoes, active and dormant, on a world map. Why are they often found in clusters? Find photographs of erupting volcanoes. Note that some are islands, others are located inland.
3. Use cardboard for a base upon which to make your model volcano. Mold Crayola® Model Magic into a mountain. Be sure to hollow out the center of the cone for the crater. Volcanoes often blow out one or more sides of the mountain when they erupt.
4. You might blend red and black Model Magic to show the hot magma and lava streaming down the volcano. Press Model Magic together to seal seams when you join pieces.
5. Blend blue and white Model Magic to form tidal waves and water surrounding the volcano. Or create green vegetation such as forests or fields if the volcano is inland.
6. Add wisps of cotton balls to the top of your volcano to resemble steam.

adaptations

Provide an array of photographs or videos about volcanoes for children with special needs. If children prefer, encourage them to work with partners or in small groups.

Research what the inside of a volcano looks like. Create a cut-away model with Model Magic or draw it with Crayola Markers.

Create a large volcano, showing both the inside and the outside, on a large bulletin board. Label the various parts and list vocabulary words.

Research the eruption of Krakatoa on August 26, 1883. This Indonesian volcano created the biggest explosion in recorded history, with gigantic tidal waves.

benefits

Students research information about volcanoes...how they are formed, why they erupt, and what changes take place after an eruption.

Students locate volcanoes on Earth and discover why certain areas are more likely to have eruptions than others.

Students create a model of an erupting volcano.

grades

Grades 4 to 6
Grades 7 to 12
Special Needs

subjects

Science
Visual Arts

time

30 to 60 minutes

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.