Are We Falling Apart? Exploding Volcanoes

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This lesson will acquaint students with the characteristics and effects of volcanic activity. Students will use the Internet to research information on volcanoes. Experiments on fluid viscosity as it relates to lava and on the volume of ejecta produced by a volcano will be conducted. This lesson will also explore how plate tectonics relates to volcanoes.

Grade Level:

5-8

Subject Matter:

Science

Curricular Uses:

Volcanoes



Learning Objectives

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Students will be able to:

• Understand that volcanoes are formed when magma (molten rock) pushes up from under the earth's crust and reaches the surface as lava.
  
• List the parts and several characteristics of a volcano.
  
• Understand that different kinds of lava differ in their viscosity (runniness), and that how viscous the lava is helps determine the kind of volcanic eruption that occurs.
  
• Analyze the volume of ejecta from a volcano.
  
• Understand the relationship between volcanic eruptions and the earth's plates.
  
  
  

This lesson plan was developed by Betty Paulsell, wNetSchool Master Teacher, and was funded by The Louis Calder Foundation.

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