Volcanic eruptions are driven by gas dissolved in molten rock (magma) underground trying to escape upwards. But what happens if the gas gets trapped and can't get out?

In this experiment you can trap more and more gas in a sealed container, in the same way gas can get trapped in a volcano, and see what happens...

Download the instructions and information sheet

This experiment and video were made by Nick Barrett. Nick is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge Earth Science
Department and The British Antarctic Survey investigating the resistance of Antarctic marine species to predicted freshening and
lower salinity in the Southern Ocean.

Download the instructions or watch the video below

Volcanoes form when hot molten rock (magma) under the ground erupts at the surface, but what causes the molten rock to erupt? Eruptions are often driven by gases escaping…

In this experiment you can start a chemical reaction that creates a gas, and see how the gas escaping drives an eruption.

This experiment and video was devised by the Volcano Seismology group in the Earth Science Department, University of Cambridge.

There are many different types of volcanoes. Shield volcanoes have a broad rounded shape and gentle splattery eruptions often described as fire fountains. Strato volcanoes are sharp and steep sided and have violent explosive eruptions. But what makes these two types of volcano look and erupt so differently? It is mainly controlled by how think (viscous) or runny the magma in the volcano is...

In this experiment you can use 3 different thickness (viscosity) liquids to see what differences runny or thick magma can cause in volcanoes.

The Whipple Museum has a large collection of globes from different times and places. Some of them are of the Earth, like this one which you can colour in - what countries can you see on it? Other globes in the collection are of the moon, different planets or the night sky with all the stars.

It’s estimated that there are about 20 million penguins in Antarctica. When it’s really cold they huddle together to keep warm. The most extreme huddle ever recorded was 19 Emperor penguins within a square metre!

Have a go at making your own penguin. All you need is some paper, and a pen for drawing on the eyes.

Download instructions

What does Frank need on his polar adventure? What will he eat? How will he stay warm? How will he stay cheerful?

Download our activity sheet to give him a helping hand.

A series of activities inspired by some of the newspapers made on polar expeditions from our collection at the Scott Polar Research Institute. Enjoy designing your own news report.

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A series of activities inspired by the barrel organ in our collection at the Polar Museum. Enjoy learning about music on board ship, finding out how music affects us and have a go at making some of your own.

Download activities