Calderas in the sandpit

In this activity, students pop a balloon in a container of sand to model caldera volcanoes and learn how lakes like Taupō and Rotorua were formed.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

• demonstrate how caldera volcanoes are formed

• demonstrate how depressions are left after the volcano erupts

• identify Lakes Taupō and Rotorua and discuss their formation.

Download the Word file for:

• introduction/background notes

• what you need

• what to do

• extension idea.