Why Do Some Volcanoes Explode?

This week in science we continued our study of volcanoes.  Your child learned about different kinds of volcanoes and how the thickness of the lava can explain the shape and eruption pattern of the volcanoes.  Using lava made out of water and flour, they tested how different lavas create different shapes and trap gases differently.  We solved the mystery, “Why do some volcanoes explode?”

You can support this week’s learning by watching this high definition video of lava flowing in Hawaii with your child: http://safeYouTube.net/w/iel.  See if you can figure out the shape of the volcano that’s producing the lava. (hint: the lava is pretty thin so it doesn’t trap the gas very well.)  Good luck!