Volcanoes
Introduction:
Activities:
- Take out a blank piece of paper. Create a KWL chart on Volcanoes. Start working on the first two columns. What do you already know, what do you wonder? If you learned anything new in the video, add it to the third column.
- Group work:
- Work in a small group of 3-4.
- Obtain a copy of the World Map Without Volcanoes handout.
- Hawai'i is one place that is well known for its volcanoes. List as many other places and countries as they can that have volcanoes. Think about major eruptions that have appeared in the news recently, or famous ones that have happened in history (e.g., Vesuvius and Krakatau).
- Next, mark the locations of the volcanoes on their maps. Before moving on, ask the students the following:
- Do you see any patterns?
- Can you think of any possible explanations for the patterns you see?
- Now, display the World Map With Volcanoes marked and have the groups look at both maps.
- Discuss:
- Ask about the distribution of volcanoes, and have students hypothesize why they are where they are and why certain areas are more active than others.
- If there is time, have the groups share their lists and other findings with the class.
- Discuss:
- Volcanism interactive. With the students, explore the Volcanism HTML Interactive and record in their notebooks answers to the questions below. Students will use the recorded information in the case study activity that concludes the lesson plan.
- Questions:
- How do volcanoes form?
- What are the four primary types of volcanoes?
- Name and describe each type in detail. Encourage students to sketch the shape of each type and note its plate tectonic setting (i.e., over hot spots, spreading centers, or subduction zones).
- Where do volcanoes form?
- Rocks are classified by what they are made of and how they form. Igneous rocks always begin as magma. What are the two main types of igneous rocks, and what is the main difference between them? How does each type form into solid rock?
- Questions:
Review:
- As an optional activity, have the students check out the Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker Flash Interactive to review the basics of plate tectonics.