Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading the Shapes of Volcanoes on Earth and Mars

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students compare and contrast the volcanoes of Earth and Mars, and examine specific volcanoes on Mars. They model the processes that create cone and shield volcanoes, and measure the slope angles of cone and shield volcanoes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanoes: How Safe Are They?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth, plot their locations, and research different volcanic hazards.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonic - Volcanoes Lab

For Teachers K
Students explore that volcanoes produce rocks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volatile Volcanoes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars have fun with graphics, graphs and money, simultaneously learning with up-to-the-minute information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Whirlwind Tour

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore volcanoes, hurricanes, and tornadoes through the use of the Internet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peanut Brittle Volcano

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Pupils see simulated lava flow down a simulated volcano. They examine how lava cools fastest on the surface.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanoes: Piles of Fire

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners investigate how particle size affects the angle of a volcano's slope.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Model of a Strato Volcano

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students build a volcano model on tag board. They add lava and ash layers simulating the process that builds a real strato volcano cone.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Erupting Volcano

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders watch teacher conduct the following experiment. Wearing safety goggles and old clothing is advised. The experiment could ruin clothing and hurt unprotected eyes. Follow the steps below having students write down what they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on a Fiery Planet

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the effects on the evolution of human culture from volcanic events worldwide.
Interactive
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Earthquakes Around the World

For Students 6th - 8th
In this interactive, students manipulate a computer model that shows where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have occurred since 1960, to make predictions, collect data and look for patterns. Includes career connection, and a question...
Website
Idaho State University

Idaho State University: Environmental Geology: Volcanoes

For Students 9th - 10th
Investigate the science of volcanoes on the surface of the earth. Discover their types, hazards and effects.
Handout
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions

For Students 9th - 10th
This media-rich essay from NOVA Online describes the challenges of forecasting volcanic eruptions and includes information about specific cases.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Volcanic Eruptions and Hazards

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive resource adapted from the National Park Service illustrates the difference between explosive and effusive volcanic eruptions, as well as the hazards that can result, including lahars, tsunamis, and lava flows.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Volcanic Features

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive resource adapted from the National Park Service illustrates the variety of landforms and features created by volcanoes. Featured are calderas, craters, fumaroles and other geothermal features, igneous rocks, lava flows,...
Unit Plan
Tramline

Virtual Field Trip: Volcanoes

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In this virtual field trip find out about how volcanoes are formed and what kind of destruction can they cause. Discover how volcanoes affect our environment and where can you find active volcanoes on earth and on other planets.
Article
Story Behind the Science

Story Behind the Science: How Volcanic Activity Fit Into Systems of Earth [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Article explaining the history of our scientific understanding of volcanic activity, ending with questions for students about scientific methods and historical contexts.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Ring of Fire 1: What Volcanoes Tell Us About Plate Tectonics

For Students 6th - 8th
The Ring of Fire is a region of volcanic and earthquake activity that surrounds the Pacific Ocean. In this project you can explore the connection between plate tectonics and volcanic activity by mapping historical data.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Identifying Evidence for Volcanism in Waite Park Quarries

For Teachers 9th - 10th
By looking on the diabase dikes, fractures, rock textures, and composition of the granite bedrock, students in this field investigation will be looking for evidence of volcanism. This particular investigation was written for students to...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Yellowstone! A National Park on a Hot Spot

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan with an accompanying PowerPoint learning module for students where they learn about the volcanic features of Yellowstone National Park. They use spreadsheets to make various calculations, such as the volume of material...
Website
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Discover Our Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
Study earthquakes, volcanoes, topography, plate tectonics, and sea level change using graphs, maps, and movies. Engage in earth science knowledge discovery, critically evaluate the data and results, and reach conclusions about the earth...
Unit Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Distribution of Active Volcanoes Exercise

For Students 9th - 10th
This six-week long exercise asks students to gather, chart, interpret, and synthesize data on current volcanic events. A brief role playing activity and virtual field trip concludes the exercise.
Website
University of Hawai'i

Hawaii Center for Volcanology: Kilaueu

For Students 9th - 10th
Kilauea erupted in 1790 and is still among the most active volcanoes today. Great graphics of the volcano. Excellent history information about previous eruptions.
Unit Plan
Geographypods

Geographypods: Theme 2: Natural Environments

For Students 9th - 10th
A rich collection of highly engaging learning modules on topics related to the natural environment. Covers four main areas - plate tectonics, forms and processes, weather and climate, and rainforest and desert. Within each of these,...