Dear Forest Families,

We had an exciting week in our classroom! We learned that there is a whole lot happening under our feet!

This week’s focus – The layers of the earth, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and geysers.

We learned:

• The Earth consists of four layers: inner core, outer core, mantle and crust.
• A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock below the surface of the the earth. When pressure builds up, eruptions occur. Gases and rock shoot up through the opening and spill over or fill the air with lava fragments.
• Volcanoes are formed when magma from within the Earth’s upper mantle works its way to the surface. Over time, as the volcano continues to erupt it will get bigger and bigger.
• Scientist categorized volcanoes into three main categories: active, dormant, and extinct. An active volcano is one which has recently erupted and there is a possibility that it may erupt soon. A dormant volcano is one which has not erupted and there is a possibility that it may erupt soon. An extinct volcano is one which has erupted thousands of years ago and there’s no possibility of eruption.
• We learned that the earth is made up of plates which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. When the plates move the friction causes earthquakes and volcanic erupts near the edges of the plates. This theory is called plate tectonics.
• There are more than 1,500 volcanoes on the Earth. There are currently 80 or more which are under the ocean. Active volcanoes in the U.S. are found mainly in Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington.
• Magma is liquid rock inside a volcano. Lava is liquid rock that flows out of a volcano. Fresh lava glows red hot to white hot as it flows.
• A tsunami is a large ocean wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake or a volcanic explosion.
• A geyser is a hot spring in which water intermittently boils, sending a tall column of water and steam into the air.

Science – The children loved to see the explosive  reactions in this weeks experiments!

• We simulated a volcano eruption with a model volcano, baking soda, vinegar, red paint, and soap.
• We simulated a geyser with soda and mentos.

A peek into next week – Where the Wild Things Are!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ms. Melissa, Ms, Leala, and Ms. Brenda