Lesson 4: Volcanoes Lesson Plan: Key Questions and Ideas
Lesson 4: Volcanoes Lesson Plan: Key Questions and Ideas
Lesson 4: Volcanoes Lesson Plan: Key Questions and Ideas
Lesson Plan
Use the Volcanoes PowerPoint presentation in conjunction with the Lesson Plan. The PowerPoint
presentation contains photographs and images and follows the sequence of the lesson. The I, to
accompany this lesson also explains some of the key points in more detail.
Downloads
Volcanoes (PPT)
Factsheet for teachers PDF | MSWORD
Starter
Pupils take part in an ‘Around the World’ challenge.
The object of the game is for a pupil to correctly answer a question posed by the teacher before one
of their classmates. By answering questions they get to travel ‘Around the World’, which in the context
of the game means around the classroom. The questions should focus on the learning from the
previous three lessons.
The teacher can tailor questions to suit their own class and the needs of individual pupils.
Main Teaching
The word volcano is derived from the name Vulcan, the Roman God of fire. Today the pupils
will be volcanologists.
The structure of the Earth: Pupils should already be familiar with the structure of the Earth
(the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust). Consolidate this understanding if necessary.
Plate tectonics: Then, remind pupils that the Earth is not a smooth sphere, but has a crust
divided into eight major tectonic plates. These tectonic plates move constantly through the
action of convection currents in the mantle. Each year the Earth’s plates move 1-10cm.
Plate boundaries are important: Volcanoes are usually formed at the boundary between
two tectonic plates.
For an interactive map of the world detailing the major tectonic plates, volcanoes and
earthquakes visit the Geological Society website: http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Plate-Tectonics
Iceland is formed on the constructive boundary of the North American plate and the Eurasian
plate (see the factsheet for teachers for more details). Show pupils the photograph of
Eyjafjallajökull, the Icelandic volcano that, in 2010, caused travel disruption for several weeks
across Europe, as huge plumes of ash entered the atmosphere. A 3d cut out model is also
available to download from the British Geological Survey website:
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/hazards/volcanoes/models/iceland.html
Destructive plate boundaries: Show pupils the image of a destructive plate boundary and
explain that two plates can also collide or converge. In this case one plate is pushed under
the other. The plate underneath then melts and the crust becomes molten rock (magma). This
magma then forces its way back to the surface to form a volcano. The eruptions that happen
at destructive boundaries tend to be violent because the converging plates do not simply glide
under one another but undergo tremendous pressure, which can also cause earthquakes.
Chile, in South America, has active volcanoes, formed at the destructive boundary of the
Nazca and South American plates. Show pupils the photograph of Villarrica in Chile.
Why does an eruption happen? Magma is a mixture of molten rock and gas. Huge pressure
is placed on the magma when it is deep underground. When the magma rises through a
volcano’s vent this pressure is released. Lava and gas then erupt from the vent. Some of this
lava cools before it lands (small lumps are called cinders, larger lumps are called bombs), but
some of this lava flows down the sides of the volcano and onto the surrounding area.
When lava cools it forms igneous rocks such as basalt, granite and pumice. Show pupils
examples of these rocks if they are available.
Volcanoes come in different shapes: The shape of a volcano depends on the type of
eruption that occurs and the type of lava present. Two main types of volcano are the shield
volcano and the composite volcano.
Shield volcanoes: Shield volcanoes have very runny lava (they are not viscous); because of
this they do not have an ‘explosive’ eruption. Lava spreads quickly across the landscape. With
each eruption a new layer of rock is built on the previous one. Gradually a wide dome of rock
is built up. It is called a shield volcano because it looks like a curved shield lying on the
ground (or an upside down dinner plate). The slopes of a shield volcano are very gentle. The
Hawaiian islands are a chain of shield volcanoes (see the factsheet for teachers for details).
Show pupils the photograph of Mauna Loa in Hawaii as you talk through the case study. You
might want to locate Hawaii using either Google earth or an atlas.
Composite volcanoes: Composite volcanoes are the most common type of volcano. When
you think of a volcano you are probably picturing the classic shape of the composite volcano.
They are formed by hardened layers of lava and ash from successive eruptions. The lava is
viscous (therefore thicker than with shield volcanos) and it cools and hardens before
spreading very far. The eruptions tend to be very violent. Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy is an
example of a Composite Volcano.
The structure of a Volcano: Discuss the structure of a volcano with pupils. Use the factsheet
for teacher to help you. This image is available on the related Volcano PowerPoint. Rather
than producing a pre-labelled diagram, it is suggested that the structure is labelled and
discussed as a class.
Main Activity
Either draw and label a diagram showing the cross section of a composite volcano.
As an extension or homework activity pupils could cut out and glue their own composite
volcano. For a make-your-own, cut-out and glue 3d composite volcano go to the Geoblox:
http://www.geoblox.com/colorvolcano2.pdf
Plenary
What have we learned today?
Give each pupil a post-it note. They should write, or draw, one piece of information they have
learned today. Pupils can then stick their post-it note on a wall or whiteboard (perhaps in the
shape of a composite volcano). As a class did we remember everything?
You may like to pose this question to your pupils. There are no active volcanoes in the UK. However,
there is evidence of past volcanic activity. This is detailed in the factsheet for teachers and includes:
Castle Rock the seat of Edinburgh Castle; The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland; Fingal’s Cave
in Scotland and The Hebrides Terrace Seamount.