Free Volcanoes Unit
FREE Volcanoes Unit! Kids love volcanoes! Your student will certainly love to explode their own volcano, but what about all of the terminology and the understanding of why volcanoes do what they do? This unit will help you teach yours about how volcanoes form, how to label the parts of a volcano, what types of volcanoes there are, and other fascinating concepts associated with volcanoes.
Originally, this free volcano unit was created for middle school students; however, my oldest is in 4th grade and we have been able to use a number of the resources. Be sure to check out our other free science curriculum including unit studies and labs & experiments. Happy learning!
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How to use the Free Volcanoes Unit and resources?
There are four slideshows and countless other printables, activities, and videos in our FREE Volcanoes Unit. So, what do you use first, and in what order? I put the slideshows and activities in the order that I would use them. Now, that does not mean that you need to do every activity to create a comprehensive Volcanoes unit. The slideshows are like science readers. They provide your student with the new information needed to complete the other activities. We always encourage the use of other science textbooks and resources to ensure a well-rounded experience. Our Free Volcanoes Unit is divided into four sections:
– What is a volcano?
– Types of Volcanoes
-What are the Stages of a Volcano?
– Dangers & Benefits of a Volcano
What is a Volcano? Slideshow
The What is a Volcano? slideshow answers your most basic questions about volcanoes. In this slideshow, your student will learn what a volcano is. It will address the causes of volcanoes and the parts of a volcano. They will discover the difference between magma and lava. Students will also learn about land features created by volcanoes.
Use the guided notes and diagram below with the Volcanoes slideshow.
Volcanoes Slideshow Guided Notes
The Volcanoes Guided Notes is meant to be used with the Volcanoes slideshow above. These fill-in-the-blank notes help your student walk through the material. It may not be necessary for your child to know all of the terminologies, but the guided notes do encourage reading comprehension.
Add these reading selections to your Volcanoes unit...
The last time I studied volcanoes with my students, I read the I Survived, The Destruction of Pompeii, 79 A.D. to them out loud. It was a great read. It gave my kids a different perspective on the dangers of volcanoes. Another reader that provides lots of educational information and is an interesting read is, Pompeii Buried Alive.
Free Volcano Diagram
This diagram is a great resource to use when discussing with your child the different parts of a volcano. The word bank at the bottom of the worksheet assists a student in figuring out how to label the diagram. Use the Volcanoes Slideshow to help you review. There is a teacher’s answer sheet attached.
Volcano Mini Book
Crayola offers a free Volcano Mini Book that you can print and cut out as a mini-book. I would recommend this for younger learners who may be participating in the volcano unit. It can be a fun way to reiterate the basics of a volcano eruption without being cumbersome. Happy learning!
Types of Volcanoes Slideshow
This slideshow features the 3 types of volcanoes: composite, shield, and cinder cone. Each of the volcanoes are described with examples provided. The Types of Volcanoes Table is reviewed for student comprehension. A copy of the table can be downloaded below! Happy learning!
DOWNLOAD PDFTypes of Volcanoes Table
The Types of Volcano Table is effective at comparing the 3 different types of volcanoes. Use the Types of Volcanoes slideshow to help you complete the table. The table requires the student to describe, give examples, and draw a model of each type of volcano.
Volcanic Stages & Eruptions
This slideshow focuses on the three stages of a volcanic life: active, dormant, and extinct. The educational presentation briefly hits on the why behind explosive versus quiet eruptions. Note: Point out to your student that composite, or a stratovolcano, will erupt violently while a shield volcano’s eruption, while dangerous, has a quieter eruption.
Free Volcanoes Unit Comprehension Questions
This set of questions was created years ago as a study guide for middle school students. It would also make an appropriate comprehension guide for those students at home looking to review the covered volcano information. These questions would make a great discussion topic.
Benefits and Dangers of Volcanoes
This slideshow focuses on the three stages of a volcanic life: active, dormant, and extinct. The educational presentation briefly hits on the why behind explosive versus quiet eruptions. Note: Point out to your student that composite, or a stratovolcano, will erupt violently while a shield volcano’s eruption, while dangerous, has a quieter eruption.
Volcano Research & Writing Project
The Volcano Research & Writing Project is an effective way for students to learn about volcanoes on a deeper level. There are two research sheet options along with two different levels of writing sheets. Depending on the age and ability of your student, pick the graphic organizer that is more appropriate for your student. Give students a short list of the most popular or destructive volcanoes to choose from for their research. Some desirable ones include Stromboli, Mt. Etna, Mt. Saint Helens, and Moana Loa.
Locating Famous Volcanoes By 3D Geography
This free resource by 3D Geography combines the exploration of volcanoes with geography skills. The more you can combine subjects, the better. Pretty cool resource. Get your own copy here!
Easy Volcano Lab
Most of us know how to implement the Easy Volcano Lab. The ingredients list is fairly simple: small plastic water bottle, vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, funnel, food coloring, and play-doh/clay/mud. Years ago, my boys and I used a painted piece of plywood as a base with army men, animals, and trees adorning it. In the center of our jungle, we secured an empty water bottle with play-doh molded around it to create a volcano mountain. It looked like a composite volcano in shape. We were all so proud of our model. Now it was time to emulate a volcano eruption! Watch the video below to see the procedure of the experiment. Depending on the size of your bottle, you may need to experiment with the ratio. Fun! The cool thing is that you can run the eruption multiple times watching your pretend lava spew out all over your jungle!
This video is a great example of how you could create your homemade volcano eruption. However you make your model, have fun!
Free Volcanoes Unit Video Suggestions
Videos are always a nice addition to any science unit. Many science topics can benefit from realistic visuals. Use the video links below to add another layer of learning to your free Volcanoes unit. Watch the videos with your kids to actively debunk the millions of years of statements that support the theory of evolution and not God’s creation.
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