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.