When it comes to Volcanoes, it can be pretty simple to explain them. They are, after all, mountains that spew lava, right?

In many ways that answer is yes, but not all volcanoes are mountains, in the exact sense of the word, and not all mountains are volcanoes.

Volcanoes are usually formed at the spots where platelets either collide or pull apart. Generally, there is a gap where the plates border each other and a lake of molten rock is trapped in the space between the platelets. This is called a magma chamber if you were to look at a volcano. Once the magma collects in the chamber, a series of eruptions will occur. Each time it erupts, the lava and ash that comes out of the eruption cools and begins to form a pile of igneous rock. With each passing eruption, more height is added to the pile and eventually it begins to form a mountain. This process can take thousands of years and some volcanoes can become extinct before they even gain significant height.

Volcanoes can also form at hot spots, such as those found in Hawaii, which are found above a feeder channel, or magma plume, that feeds magma from the Earth’s core up into a chamber in the Earth’s crust. The last place a volcano can form is over thin spots in the Earth’s crust.

Since the platelets of the Earth are constantly moving, volcanoes can and do become extinct. An extinct volcano occurs when the platelets have moved far enough from the magma plume that it is no longer attached to it. In the case of the Pacific Ring of Fire, you will find many volcanoes that are now dormant, no longer attached to the magma plume that created it. However, when it shifted, a new volcano began to form over the magma plume and the cycle was begun again.

There are several types of Volcanoes and I’m not going to get into the definition for each one since this is after all a cheat sheet. I don’t want to load you down with too much information but I have added a link that will explain each one to you in more depth.

The types of Volcanoes are:

• Mid-ocean
• Shield
• Strato
• Flood Basalts
• Monogenetic Fields
• Rhyolite Caldera Complexes

When a volcano erupts, there are two types of flow. These are the Dome Collapse where there is a thick crust of lava that blocks the top of the volcano shaft. When the lava reaches the blockage, it begins to flow sideways out of the top of the volcano. The second is the Collapsing Vertical Eruption where the eruption forces volcanic ash and other objects up into a cloud before it collapses and begins to flow down the sides of the volcano.

Lastly, there are several types of eruptions and these are:

• Hawaiian
• Peleean
• Vulcanian
• Strombolian
• Plinian

And that is all I am going to go into about volcanoes, although I could go into much more. If you would like more information on Volcanoes, I suggest using the wikipedia site on Volcanoes or going to the site, Volcano World. This is a great site that has a section for teaching and a section for Kids. One of the books that I used for a lot of my research on volcanoes was a Visual Dictionary that I bought for my class and then brought home. If you have a chance to find a good visual dictionary for kids, don’t hesitate to pick it up.

Sirena Van Schaik

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For the Older Kids

What you will need:

• Borax Laundry Detergent
• Water
• Elmer’s Glue
• Sandwich Bag
• Food Coloring

What you need to do:

1. Take 1/8th of a cup of borax laundry detergent and dissolve it into a half litre of warm water.
2. Once it is dissolved, set it aside and allow it to cool.
3. Take a separate cup and add 2 tablespoons of Elmer’s glue in it.
4. Stir in 3 tablespoons of water and mix thoroughly.
5. Add food coloring.  Green is the best choice for snot but you can mix it up for alien or ghost goo. (hmm, I think that is the official term for it). Stir until you have the desired color.
6. Pour in one tablespoon of the borax solution that you made.
7. Mix thoroughly.

And there you have some really gross snot.  Enjoy

For the younger kids

What you need:

• clear corn syrup
• water
• clear gelatin powder
• food coloring

What you need to do:

1. Heat a half cup of water until it is boiling hot (this is important for parents to do.)
2. Add in three packages of clear gelatin and food coloring
3. Stir until it is dissolved.
4. Place into a measuring cup
5. Pour in corn syrup until the liquid rises to a cup. 
6. Stir until long snot globs form on the end of your fork.

And there you have a non toxic snot that you won’t have to worry if any is ingested. 

I hope you enjoyed today’s gross crafty recipe.

Sirena Van Schaik

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I thought that I would give an update of the project since we are now into week 2 of the ootheca watching and waiting to see if we will be producing some praying mantids.  I’m actually getting a little impatient with the whole thing but from my research, I am looking at 3 to 6 weeks so I still have time. 

Since I am waiting, I have decided to do a bit of reading on Praying Mantids and also on the Ootheca and caring for it.  There are various instructions for this but basically it comes down to keeping the ootheca in a well ventilated container and providing some moisture for humidity.  I have been misting it but not soaking it and I guess it would simulate the rain that we have been having (although a much smaller amount). 

 For the kids, who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Praying Mantids, we have been looking at some of their books and also downloading some worksheets for them.  If you would like to do some with your kids, I have included a few links for you to print out.  I find that the Internet has so many things that you can pull from but it is important to find accurate information.  All you need is to find yourself giving your child the wrong information and being called on it!

Praying Mantis Anatomy Sheet

Information About the Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis Videos: I would watch the videos first to make sure that there isn’t anything on the video that may startle your child.

Praying Mantis Coloring Page

For those of you who are interested in hatching out some praying mantids, I found this site where you can order your own Praying Mantis Case or Ootheca.  I would only recommend doing this if you are absolutely positive that Praying Mantids are native to your area and also make sure that you are hatching the native species since there are several types.  Here is the link to the site and happy hatching if you order some.

Sirena Van Schaik

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