Title – Volcanoes

By – Elizabeth Lippolis

Subject – Science, Social Studies, Language Arts

Grade Level – 3-5

Module 8.4

Major Objective: Explore volcanoes, volcanic activity, and the effect on the
environment. Meets district Science objectives C138 and C139.

Materials: Magic School Bus Inside the Earth (book), 9X12 paper, world maps, red
crayons, clay

Related URL’s: bookmark ahead of time for grade 3

http://www.onlinebiz.com/zach/mvols.htm

http://volcano.und.edu

http://users.netlink.com.au/~jhallett/volcanoes.htm

http://www.oink.demon.co.uk/topics/volcano.htm

http://www.k12.hi.us/~kapunaha/volcanoes_of_the_world_mai.htm

Time Required: two to three weeks depending on daily time allotments.

Activities and Procedures:

1. Read Magic School Bus Inside the Earth in pairs.

2. Each group summarizes and contributes at least two facts about volcanoes to
the class chart.

3. Students fold the 9X12 sheet of paper into 8 sections.

4. Students define and illustrate volcano terms: crust, mantle, magma pool,
magma, lava, ash, cone, vents.

5. Students may use their books and/or internet sites to assist them. Helpful sites
for this are:

http://users.netlink.com.au/~jhallett/volcanoes.htm

http://www.oink.demon.co.uk/topics/volcano.htm

6. How do volcanoes form? Why do they form? Students should work to find
answers to these two questions as they finish their illustrations from number 4. A
helpful site might be:

http://volcano.und.edu

7. In pairs, students visit volcano sites to locate four active volcanoes around the
world. They need to chart the name of the volcano, its location, when it last
erupted, and whether it is considered active or inactive. Helpful sites are:

http://volcano.und.edu

http://www.k12.hi.us/~kapunaha/volcanoes_of_the_world_mai.htm

8. Using a world map and a red crayon, plot where student’s volcanoes are
located. Students mark their own maps as well. This constitutes part of the “Ring
of Fire” as scientists call it.

9. Using internet sites find out how a volcano effects the surrounding environment.
A helpful site is:

http://volcano.und.edu

10. As a class discuss how a volcano erupting near our town would change our
lives and the surrounding countryside.

Follow-Up/Extension:

1. Using clay create a model volcano. Be sure to show its irregular features, side
fissures, etc. A helpful site is:

http://www.onlinebiz.com/zach/mvols.htm

2. Find the active volcano nearest our school. A helpful site is:

http://volcano.und.edu

E-Mail

Elizabeth Lippolis

!