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Recall that magma, the underground source of the lava that erupts from volcanos, forms when the rocks from the mantle melt. Magma becomes lava when it reaches the surface of the Earth. Trace the path of the magma from where it melts in the mantle, rises out of the crust, and becomes lava.
The Mantle Melting to Form Magma
Lava is made out of molten minerals, rocks, and dissolved gases. Minerals in lava include feldspars, olivine, pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas, and quartz. Lava cools to form extrusive igneous rocks above the surface of the Earth.

Lava creates landforms including volcanos, domes, tubes, lakes, spines, and deltas. See their definitions and pictures below.

  • Volcano: A vent or fissure on the surface of a planet (usually in a mountainous form) with a magma chamber attached to the mantle of a planet or moon, periodically erupting forth lava and volcanic gases onto the surface.
    • A Smoking Volcano
  • Lava Dome: A roughly circular mound-shaped bulge that builds up from the slow eruption of viscous felsic lava from a volcano.
    • A Rounded Lava Dome
  • Lava Tube: A natural hollow pipe or channel formed by flowing lava that moves beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow.
    • People Strolling Through a Lava Tube
  • Lava Lake: A reservoir of molten lava contained in a volcanic vent, crater, or broad depression.
    • A Molten Lava Lake
  • Lava Spine: A large, vertical mass of rock formed by lava being slowly expelled from a volcanic vent.
    • A Vertical Lava Spine
  • Lava Delta: A fan-shaped rocky landform forming where a river of lava empties into a body of water.
    • A Fan-shaped Lava Delta
  • Lava can even form fountains, although it certainly isn't a fountain you'd want to splash around in.
    • A Spouting Fountain of Lava

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the lesson.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
  • Study the rock and mineral of the week.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Magma forms when the rocks from the mantle melt. Magma becomes lava when it reaches the surface of the Earth. Lava cools to form extrusive igneous rocks above the surface of the Earth. Lava creates landforms including volcanos, domes, tubes, lakes, spines, and deltas.

Vocabulary

Lava: The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides.
Igneous Rock: A rock formed by the cooling of molten rock, either below the surface (intrusive) or on the surface (extrusive).
Intrusive Igneous Rock: Igneous rocks formed below the surface of the Earth from magma. The relatively slow cooling favors the development of large crystals.
Extrusive Igneous Rock: Igneous rocks formed above the surface of the Earth from lava. The relatively rapid cooling favors the formation of small crystals.

Rock or Mineral of the Week

Overview
  • Scoria is a dark colored igneous rock, consisting of the rough masses of rock formed by solidified lava around a volcano's crater.
  • Scoria, an extrusive igneous rock, forms from lava above the surface of the Earth.
  • Scoria is used to make concrete and roofing for buildings, in gardening, and in landscaping. It can also be used as the rocks in saunas and barbeque grills.

Interesting Facts
  • Although scoria has gas bubbles like pumice, it is denser as it has thicker walls between bubbles, and sinks in water.
  • Scoria is also found on the planet Mars.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Take a Nature Walk

  • Embark on a nature walk.
  • Collect one rock or mineral specimen.
  • Use the gathered specimen to create the field book entry.

Activity 3: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete page 6 in 'Fifth Grade Science Rocks and Minerals Notebook Pages.'

Review

Question 1

What is the difference between magma and lava?
1 / 4

Answer 1

Magma is located under the Earth's surface and lava above the Earth's surface.
1 / 4

Question 2

Which rock group is formed from cooling magma or lava?
2 / 4

Answer 2

The igneous rock group is formed from cooling magma or lava.
2 / 4

Question 3

Is scoria an igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock?
3 / 4

Answer 3

Scoria is an igneous rock.
3 / 4

Question 4

Is scoria formed from lava or magma?
4 / 4

Answer 4

Scoria is an extrusive igneous rock, so it forms aboveground from lava.
4 / 4

  1. What is the difference between magma and lava? Magma is located under the Earth's surface and lava above the Earth's surface.
  2. Which rock group is formed from cooling magma or lava? The igneous rock group is formed from cooling magma or lava.
  3. Is scoria an igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary rock? Scoria is an igneous rock.
  4. Is scoria formed from lava or magma? Scoria is an extrusive igneous rock, so it forms aboveground from lava.

References

  1. 'Volcano.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcano. n.p.
  2. 'Lava.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava. n.p.
  3. 'Scoria.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoria. n.p.
  4. Cited Physical Properties. Geology.com. geology.com/rocks. n.p.

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