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Overview:
A volcano is more than magma and lava. In this lesson, students will look at the anatomy of a volcano and the environment around it. Students will learn about the rocks that are formed when a volcano erupts— igneous rocks. Students will take a virtual visit to the Big Island Pool in Hawaii and see how forces of water (hydrosphere), wind (atmosphere), and geology (lithosphere) mold the Earth in which we live.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, earth science
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 7: "The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface"
Time:
Two hours
Materials Required:
- Computer(s) with Internet access
- Xpeditions atlas map of Hawaii for viewing online, on an overhead projector, or as a handout to be passed through the room
- Printouts of the inside of a volcano for each student
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Pumice stone, piece of granite, or other igneous rock
- A Gift From The Sea, by Kate Banks and Georg Hallensleben (optional)
Objectives:
Students will
- learn about the effects volcanoes can have on the path of the wind, rainfall, and the formation of the earth;
- examine an igneous rock;
- examine how igneous rocks are formed;
- demonstrate that they understand where igneous rocks come from and what they came be used for;
- examine the major features of a volcano;
- locate the Big Island of Hawaii on a map; and
- listen to/read a Hawaiian legend about lava.
Geographic Skills:
Asking Geographic Questions
Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Show students where the Big Island is on a map of Hawaii and point to the west side of the island, where Mauna Loa is. A volcano can be a very powerful part of the landscape. People may fear that an encounter with the hot lava from an eruption could change their lives forever, but Mauna Loa and Kilauea, the two volcanoes on Hawaii's Big Island also influence the wind, the rain, and the formation of the land.
Development:
To see a volcano in action, have students click through Big Island Pool, paying special attention to the illustrations, as an adult reads the text aloud.
After students have seen how the volcano can influence these forces of nature, ask students if they have ever seen the effects of a volcanic eruption in person. While many students will probably say no, or that that they have seen a volcano on television, tell the students that certain rocks actually come from volcanoes. Pass around the pumice stone or a piece of granite to show students that these familiar objects are the products of a volcano erupting. Ask students where they have seen these stones.
Students can see photographs and a short film clip about volcanoes at National Geographic's Forces of Nature: Volcanoes.
Closing:
Suggested Student Assessment:
On a piece of paper, ask students to draw arrows indicating the path of the volcano, including the formation of the igneous rock on the surface. On the back of the paper, have students draw the rock at a later point in time, being used for another purpose, such as in a spa, or as a part of a building. Students have achieved success if they have shown where the rock came from (magma), and where it wound up!
Extending the Lesson:
Students can learn more about volcanoes from stories. The picture book, A Gift From The Sea, by Kate Banks and Georg Hallensleban follows the life of an igneous rock from prehistoric times to today. Students may also enjoy hearing a legend about volcanoes in Hawaii that answers the question, "What, or who, is lava?"
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