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.
Modelling a caldera formation
Caldera volcanoes are violent eruptions that throw magma, ash and rock across large areas. After the eruption, the volcano collapses into the space left by the empty magma chamber, forming a very large crater.
In this model, the balloon represents the magma chamber. The hole that is formed represents the crater.
Note that the video does not have a soundtrack.
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.
