Summary
The blobs in a lava lamp rise and sink because heat changes how dense the wax is compared with the liquid around it. A short Nat Geo Kids clip (2:57) you can drop straight into a lesson.
Viewer safety
All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
The blobs in a lava lamp rise and sink because heat changes how dense the wax is compared with the liquid around it.
- In your own words, what was this clip mostly about?
- What did you learn about heat that you didn't know before?
- What's one question this makes you want to investigate further?
Quick work-a-long
Words to know: heat, density, rise.
Try it: Tell a partner what "How Lava Lamps Work" was about using these three words, then write down one new thing you learned and one thing you still wonder.

