Volcanoes and Their Effects on Earth's Changing Surface

Standards Connection
           AL 6th Science (2) Describe factors that cause changes to Earth's surface over time.
                   Examples: earthquakes, volcanoes, weathering, erosion, glacial erosion or scouring, deposition, water flow, tornadoes, hurricanes, farming and conservation, mining and reclamation, deforestation and reforestation, waste disposal, global climate changes, and greenhouse gases.


Unit Objective
            Students will identify and explain the causes of volcanoes and the effects that volcanoes have on the perpetual changing of Earth’s surface, through the accurate completion of a teacher-designed summative test.

"Kid-Friendly" Daily Learning Objectives
        Day 1:  Today we will answer some very important questions, such as “Why should we study the Earth, particularly its surface?” and “What is change?”  After successfully answering these questions, you will work in groups to research the Internet and find the worst natural disasters in history that have changed the Earth’s surface.  After researching, we will share our discoveries with the rest of the class, so that we can all gain insight into how changeable Earth’s surface really is.

            Day 2:  Greetings volcanologists!  Yesterday we learned why it is important to study the Earth and what factors change Earth’s surface over time.  Today we will discuss one of those factors...the volcano!  For the remainder of our time together, we will answer these two questions: “What is a volcano?” and “What causes a volcano to erupt?”  Afterwards, there will be a brief quiz, so please listen carefully and take good notes. 

            Day 3: Today we will learn about the three different types of volcanoes, and then you volcanologists will use your poetic sides to create a poem that compares and contrasts these three volcanoes.  After creating your poems, you and your group will present your creation to the rest of the class.

            Day 4: Today is a big day, as we will be learning how volcanoes affect the Earth’s surface.  Afterwards, you will have one essay-style questions to answer that will make you apply what you’ve learned to a real-life situation.

            Day 5: Well done volcanologists!  You’re almost done learning about volcanoes!  You are practically experts.  Today we will watch clips from the movie “Dante’s Peak” and discuss any images we see that describe what the town looked like “before” and “after” the local volcano erupts.  After logging these accounts into your volcanologist journals, we will review for your final assessment, which will be next Monday.