Today, have a fun volcano unit study. Also, grab more ideas on my best homeschool unit studies page.
Besides, kids love to watch the fiery explosion of an erupting volcano, real or replicated.
I have some great resources for you to put together a volcano unit study for the whole family to enjoy.
Also, I have ideas, fun facts to videos, books, games, art, and anything else you might need to make it explosively good.
Additionally, we are going to create an apple volcano.
It is easy and fun for preschoolers and early elementary students.
However, I guarantee if you put your middle school child up to create it from start to finish, he will enjoy this simple activity as well.
Facts about Volcanoes
Also, look at these facts about volcanoes.
- The word “volcano” comes from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
- Volcanologists are scientists who study volcanoes using methods from geology, chemistry, geography, mineralogy, physics, and sociology.
- There are about 350 million people who live in the “danger range” of an active volcano.
- Volcanoes are classified into one of 3 ways-active, dormant, or extinct.
- Besides on land volcanoes can also be found on the ocean floor and under ice caps.
- Pompeii was destroyed and buried by a volcano called Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79.
- Earth’s crust has 17 major, rigid tectonic plates. They float on a hotter, soft layer in the mantle. Volcanoes are often found where tectonic plates are moving apart or coming together.
- There are three different types of volcanoes – Strato (Composite), Shield, and Dome.
Next, look at some words and questions to include in the volcano unit study.
- lithosphere: The Earth’s outermost shell.
- magma: The liquid rock inside the earth.
- lava: Magma spewed from a volcano.
- spew: To forcefully expel something.
- ash: Dust made from the bits of burnt rock.
- vent: opening to allow air, heat, or steam to escape.
- erupt: to explode
- crater: The circular depression containing a volcanic vent.
- liquid: not a solid or gas; like milk, water, or juice.
- atmosphere: The mixture of gases that envelops the Earth.
- hydrosphere: It is the water on the Earth’s surface contained in oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as ground water.
- cryosphere: Water on the Earth’s surface which is frozen such as glaciers; snow; sea, lake, and river ice.
What is a volcano? A volcano is a circular or linear opening in the Earth’s surface through which lava, rock fragments, ash, aerosols, and gases erupt.
Why do volcanoes occur? Because the Earth’s rigid outer shell, the crust and upper mantle, is broken into a mosaic of plates. The plates are in constant motion.
What are the effects of volcanoes on the Earth? Volcanic eruptions can destroy the landforms they help create.
About the Eruption of Mount St. Helens
Moreover, research about the eruption of Mount St. Helens. On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted violently.
For nearly 2 months, scientists had been monitoring changes at Mount St. Helens. Gone were 70 percent of the glaciers that had crowned the volcano.
Within a few minutes of the start of the eruption, the mountain lost 1,312 feet of its height and a gaping crater 2,050 feet deep, 1.7 miles long, and 1.3 miles wide opened on its once nearly symmetrical cone.
Books and Resources for a Homeschool Volcano Unit Study
12 Volcano Books & Resources
Add one or two of these books to learn about volcanoes and add some hands-on ideas to learn about the types of volcanoes.
Did you know there are four main types of volcanoes? Or that volcanoes are classified as active, dormant, or extinct? The Devil’s Tower in Wyoming is an extinct volcano. It’s about 40.5 million years old!
Simple explanation of how an island is formed. B/ W sketch illustrations.
As Dawn breaks, mount kahlualualuau is spewing its fiery lava down onto meepleville. The natives are frantically trying to escape the rivers of lava and remain on safe ground. Whoever’s tribe survives the eruption with the most Meeples shall be the winner!
In this extraordinary photographic essay, Patricia Lauber details the Mount St. Helens eruption and the years following in Volcano: Eruption and Healing of Mt. St. Helen's.Through this clear accurate account, readers of all ages will share the awe of the scientists who witnessed both the power of the volcano and the resiliency of life.
Science is vital for every inhabitant of today’s world, and being scientifically informed and literate is a crucial part of any child’s education. Science can seem daunting –- especially as scientific knowledge advances so quickly –- and this volume is the perfect purchase for any family. It will bear repeated use by all the family from 10+ through the teenage years.
Conditions on Earth are becoming more and more extreme and kids want to learn about it!
Is it true that, at any given time, about 20 volcanoes are erupting somewhere on Earth? Yes! Sometimes volcanoes erupt with a big, dangerous bang. Other times they spit out lava so slowly that you could walk faster than it flows.
‘[An] irresistible account of a child’s imaginary 8,000-mile journey through the earth to discover what’s inside. Facts about the composition of the earth are conveyed painlessly and memorably.’ —SLJ. ‘An exciting adventure. . . . Illustrations [by Caldecott Medal winner Marc Simont] explode with color and action.’ —CS.
The cool story of volcanoes will intrigue kids and adults alike. Hot melted rock from the middle of our planet forces its way up through cracks in the Earth’s crusts, exploding violently and sometimes unexpectedly in volcanic fury that can terrorize populations for months, even years.
Kids will burst with excitement as they learn all about the science and wonder of volcanoes in this new National Geographic Kids Reader.
UNFORGETTABLE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS – This is a great hands-on experiment kit for any science fair; the updated mold and instructions make it easy to assemble a sturdy volcano form and realistic paint colors give the volcano a lifelike look.
This set of 48 cards features a colorful illustration on one side and informational facts on the other side.
MIX YOUR OWN LAVA: Use the included mixture to form your own “lava” and experiment with explosions by making your own volcano erupt!
Hands-on Activities to Learn About Volcanoes
In addition, learning should always be fun. So, work in a few board games
- Work some art into your volcano unit study and create this Fizzing Baking Soda Paint Volcano Craft.
- Draw or trace a cross-section of a volcano, this one is from the Nature Anatomy books. Too, have your child color it in and label the different parts that make up a volcano.
- Grab my Mini Volcano Book and Label Layers of Earth Mini Book
- Challenge your little volcanologist to create a LEGO volcano. Maybe you will have a scientist and people running away as ours did.
- Try this Glittery Underwater Volcano experiment with preschool and early elementary students.
- For upper elementary and middle school, you might challenge them to create their own volcano from scratch like this paper mache volcano tutorial.
- Grab a pumice rock to examine and research how it was formed. The flashcard pictured was one from the Eboo Natural Earth Science cards that went perfectly along with the lesson.
Grab a map or globe and try to find the site of different volcano.
For example, locate the largest active land volcano (Mauna Loa in Hawaii), the country with the most volcanoes (The U.S), and the belt called the “Ring of Fire” which encircles the Pacific Ocean.
And locate the world’s 5 most active volcanoes.
- Mauna Loa – Hawaii.
- Eyjafjallajokull – Iceland.
- Mount Vesuvius – Italy.
- Mount Nyiragongo – Congo.
- Taal Volcano – Philippines.
Videos About Volcanoes
- Volcanoes For Kids
- Nature Cat Volcano on PBS
- Introduction to Volcanoes for Kids
- Volcano Facts For Kids
Additionally, look at these other volcano unit study ideas.
Other Volcano Unit Study Ideas
More Best Homeschool Unit Studies
Next, here are more best homeschool unit studies.
- Solar System Unit Study and Hands-on Planets Activity
- Charlotte’s Web Homeschool Unit Study and Fun Hands-on Ideas
- Homeschool Unit Study Ideas | Lewis and Clark Exploration Lapbook
- Mushroom Unit Study and Kids Learning Activities
- Little House on The Prairie Unit Study and Fun Punched Tin Lantern
More Earth Science Resources
Apple Volcano Activity
Additionally, a mini volcano like using an apple is a great study of chemical reactions.
Moreover, when baking soda and vinegar combine in a volcano, they make a water and carbon dioxide “eruption” that looks like lava from a volcano.
The best part is that this apple volcano activity can be repeated over and over.
Try different amounts of vinegar, baking soda, and even food coloring to create different effects.
Finally, make this quick and fun volcano activity.
You will need:
- Large apple
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Food coloring
- Large dish with a lip
- Knife for cutting the apple
- Small pouring container
First, use a sharp knife to core and hollow out the apple ½ to ¾ of the way down and around an inch wide.
Carefully drop a couple of heaping teaspoons of baking soda into the hole.
Next, place a few drops of orange and or yellow food coloring on the baking soda and cover it with just a bit more for a colorful surprise.
Too, add 2 drops of dish soap for the best foaming eruptions.
Then, place the apple in a shallow container that has a lip to contain the foamy mess. A baking sheet or dish pan works well.
Next, when ready, have your child carefully pour vinegar into the hole and watch what happens.
Eye droppers, mini plastic beakers, test tubes, or turkey basters are great for little hands to hold and add the liquid with.
You can see the reaction almost immediately which is the fizzing action flying off the top.
Last, add more vinegar and faster and you get your satisfying overflowing eruption.
