Volcanoes, Past and Present

Content Objectives

Students will:

• Learn about volcanoes.
• Access prior knowledge and build background about how, why, when and where volcanoes erupt.
• Explore and apply knowledge about the basic characteristics of a volcano and the three basic types of volcanoes.

Language Objectives

Students will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of volcanoes.
• Orally use words that name the different parts and types of volcanoes.
• Extend oral vocabulary by speaking about the history and dangers of volcanoes.
• Use key concept words[eruption, surface, molten rock, magma, lava, vent, igneous, active, dormant, extinct].

Other

Explain

• Use the slideshow to review the key concept words.
• Explain that students are going to learn about volcanoes:
• Where in the world volcanoes are located.
• Why volcanoes erupt.
• The difference between volcanoes and mountains.

Model

• After the host introduces the slideshow, point to the photo on screen. Ask students: What is a volcano? (a mountain or hill that is built around an opening in the earth's surface).
• Ask students: What is lava or magma made of? (extremely hot rock).
• Say: Volcanoes can be found in many parts of the world. Volcanoes can be active, dormant, or inactive. What are some of the basic parts of a volcano? (vent, lava, igneous rock, etc.)

Guided Practice

• Guide students through the next four slides showing them a diagram of a volcano. Always have the students identify the various parts.

Apply

• Play the games that follow. Have them discuss with their partner the different topics that appear during the Talk About It feature.
• After the first game, ask students if they have ever seen a volcano or know of any in their home state. After the second game, encourage them to discuss volcanoes that are located in the United States.

Close

• Ask students: Why are volcanoes important?
• Summarize for students that volcanoes are different from mountains because volcanoes can erupt. Active volcanoes erupt. Volcanoes can also be dormant, meaning that they can erupt or inactive meaning that they won't erupt. Encourage students to think about whether they would like to study volcanoes for a living.