About the
Volcanoes
Lesson
Summary
A science lesson on volcanoes.
Lesson Objectives
• Students will learn how the Earth’s structure drives changes on the surface like volcanoes, rock and mountain formation, and earthquakes.
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Students will learn the results of plate movement and internal heat.
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Students will relate observations of events and structures on Earth’s surface to their causes: plate tectonics and convection in the mantle.
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Students will learn about the different types of volcanoes and what causes them.
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Students will learn that not all magma reaches Earth’s surface; it creates interesting rock formations which are later exposed by erosion.
Suggested Grades
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade
Lesson Excerpt
Volcanoes are mountains from which hot, molten rock erupts. Have you ever wondered what causes them? Have you ever wondered if one could happen near where you live? Volcanoes are formed in different ways.
Most are a result of movement of the Earth’s plates. Some are over “hot spots” on the Earth’s surface.
Earth’s curved surface is like a giant jigsaw puzzle. The pieces of the puzzle are the tectonic plates. The plates are constantly in motion. They move toward each other. They move away from each other. They slide past each other, each heading in opposite directions, scraping along each others’ edge. We don’t see the movement because it is very slow. We see the effects of this movement, though. Most earthquake and volcano activity takes place at the plate boundaries.
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