Volcanoes - For School-Ager's

Earlier this summer I planned and presented one of the School-Age programs at my library...and then SRP happened and I forgot to post about it. So, even though I did this program with the kids a couple months ago, I will share all the fun we had learning about VOLCANOES!

I have a slight confession...I am terrified of volcanoes. It is lucky that I discovered in my research for planning this program that the closest volcano to me is over 3000 miles away. Downside...I also learned some pretty crazy facts about volcanoes at the same time!

1. First, we defined what a volcano is. I also showed them two different types of volcanoes: composite and shield. 

A composite volcano from Weather Wiz Kid:

A shield volcano from Buzzle: 

2. Then, as an interlude, we learned some of my favorite volcano fun facts I found while skimming the juvenile nonfiction books I was reading on volcanoes.

3. I asked them if they could name any volcanoes. We learned about Mount Vesuvius, Mauno Loa, Mount Saint Helen's, and Mount Fuji. When I introduced each volcano, I had them guess where it was located and what type of volcano (shield or composite) they thought it was. When we talked about Mount Fuji, the kids learned that "dormant" means sleeping but could awaken anytime. 

4. We read the book: "A Rock is Lively" by Dianna Hutts Aston.

5. Next, we talked about how volcanoes are formed. 

I introduced Earth's layers from Windows to the Universe:

And the tectonic plates on Earth from Scholastic Teacher:

They learned that the tectonic plates shift and bump up against one another, which forms trench's where magma pushes up to create volcanoes.

6. Activity: Volcano EXPLOSION!

I used the Storm the Castle's easy version of how to build a volcano. I had our Teen Volunteers make the volcanoes out of empty soda bottles and poster boards. 

Ours did not go exactly according to plan since the baking soda settled in the bottom of the volcano by the time we poured the vinegar in...but it was still a fun activity.

7. Craft: Pet Rock Monsters

I used directions from Coastal Inspired Creations for how to do pet rocks. I was feeling brave and used hot glue guns to glue on the googly eyes but perhaps we will have to find a better method next time...

All in all, it was a fun program and the kids LOVED making their own rock monsters...and giving me a hard time about the "dormant" baking soda volcano that never exploded. 

Jobs

For our final theme of Summer 2015, I did the theme of Jobs. Since our Collaborative Summer Reading Program was about heroes, our last theme was about discovering what type of hero we wanted to be in our own lives. 

Books:

Toddler Books:

LMNO Peas - Keith Baker

When Poppy and Max Grow Up - Lindsey Gardiner

Work - Ann Morris

Whose Shoes?: A Shoe for Every Job - Stephen Swinburne

Preschool Books:

LMNO Peas - Keith Baker

When Poppy and Max Grow Up - Lindsey Gardiner

My Dad's Job - Peter Glassman

Night Shift - Jessie Hartland

I Can Be Anything - Jerry Spinelli

Whose Shoes?: A Shoe for Every Job - Stephen Swinburne

Rhymes/Fingerplays/Songs:

Careers (Tune: "Farmer in the Dell")

The postman brings the mail, (marching)

The postman brings the mail,

Through rain, snow, sleet, and hail,

The postman brings the mail.

The baker bakes the bread, (move hands together as though you are playing with dough)

The baker bakes the bread,

Every day, right out of bed,

The baker bakes the bread. 

The barber cuts the hair, (make scissors with fingers)

The barber cuts the hair,

Snips here and there with great care,

The barber cuts the hair.

The librarian reads the books, (make book with hands)

The librarian reads the books,

To children and in reading nooks,

The librarian reads the books.

Source: Me :)

*I laminated pictures of each job to put on the flannel board while we acted out each part.

Community Helpers (Who am I?):

Stitches and itches, slips and falls,

Colds and flus, I fix them all.

Who am I? a DOCTOR

I get up early, just to bake,

Your cookies, rolls, bread, and cake.

Who am I? a BAKER

I'm there for you both night and day,

So you are safe at school and play.

Who am I? a POLICE OFFICER

If it's stories to read, or a computer you need,

I'll help you find whatever you have in mind.

Who am I? a LIBRARIAN

Source: My flannel drawer

Job Hat Guessing Game

I played this game with my Preschoolers. I laminated a clipart boy's face and put Velcro on either side of his hair. Then we changed the hats he was wearing. I made him hats for: a clown, construction worker, pirate, chef, police officer, cowboy, king, and firefighter. Needless to say...we had a lot of fun!