Nine earthquake and volcano experiment ideas, plus a 'Make your own volcano' template
KS2
Years 3-6
The earth is an exciting, explosive place, so find out a bit more about how earthquakes and volcanoes work with this fun volcanoes KS2 science experiments resource.
The booklet contains nine earthquakes and volcanoes KS2 experiments. It also includes a ‘Make your own Volcano’ template to cut out and colour in.
Volcano experiments
Bubble Escape and Drag Race – Viscosity and Violent Volcanoes
Use 3 fluids of different viscosity (thickness) to see what differences runny or thick magma can cause in volcanoes
Vinegar Volcano – Escaping Gas and Eruptions
Start a chemical reaction that creates a gas, and see how the gas escaping drives an eruption
Coke Volcano – Dissolved Gas in Magma
Use coke to represent magma under a volcano and see what happens when all the dissolved gas is released
Exploding Canister – Trapped Gas and Explosive Eruptions
Trap more and more gas in a sealed container, in the same way gas can get trapped in a volcano, and see what happens
Eruption in a Fish Tank – Rising Eruptive Plumes
Create your own eruptive column in a fishtank and find out what it is that makes it rise
Wonderfully Waxy Volcano in a Cup – Igneous Intrusions.
See what happens when melted wax moves through layers of sand and water, just like magma moves though layers of rock to reach the earth’s surface
Earthquake experiments
Shaky Structures – Earthquake Resistant Buildings
Make some earthquake-proof buildings of your own, using cocktail sticks and marshmallows
Slinky Waves – Earthquake Body Waves
Make your own P and S earthquake waves by using a slinky
Earthquake Race – Earthquake Wave Speeds
Line up in teams and see which wave type reaches the front first
Find out more about the University of Cambridge Department of Earth Science on its website at esc.cam.ac.uk.
