Fiery FAQs About Volcanoes

Volcanoes are dangerous, fiery and unpredictable – a bit like a teacher who arrives at the photocopier at 8:30am to find the toner has just run out and the paper tray has not been loaded!

If you’re planning to teach your class about volcanoes, then this blog is for you. It’s jam-packed full of interesting information and facts about volcanoes as well as links to some of the fantastic resources we’ve got here on CGP+.

What causes volcanoes and where are they found?

A volcano is basically a gap or opening in the Earth’s crust known as a vent. These vents allow the liquid rock that is found in the mantle (the layer between the Earth’s crust and core) to escape. While it’s underground, this liquid rock is called magma. However, once it reaches the surface, we call it lava. Many volcanoes are cone-shaped mountains or hills and can be found on land or under the sea.

The Earth’s crust is like a huge jigsaw puzzle made up of vast pieces of rock called tectonic plates. These plates float on top of the magma layer underneath. Most volcanoes are found in areas where these plates meet. Tectonic plates move less than 10 cm a year but even this tiny movement can cause volcanic eruptions. Sometimes one plate will slide under the one next to it, and the heat from this process allows magma to form, which then forms volcanoes. These plate boundaries are known as convergent or destructive plate boundaries. Volcanoes also form on constructive (also called divergent) plate boundaries. Here, tectonic plates move apart, and as they do so, magma rises to fill the gap and make new crust.

Some volcanic eruptions occur quite slowly and with little or no noise. However, if lots of gas is trapped within the magma, the build-up of pressure can lead to a violent and explosive eruption where lava, rocks and ash are forced up into the atmosphere.

Many of the world’s volcanoes are in an area of the Pacific Ocean known as the Ring of Fire. The ring is shaped like a horseshoe and surrounds most of the Pacific Ocean. It’s approximately 40 000 km long and contains over 700 volcanoes.

CGP+ has some great resources to explain how volcanoes are formed – check out our video for Years 5-6 and this PowerPoint for Years 5-6 to get your topic off to a scorching start!
 

What are the different types of volcanoes?

There are three main types of volcanoes. The least explosive type is the shield volcano. Shield volcanoes have gentle sloping sides because the lava that emerges from them is usually quite runny and fast flowing.

Composite volcanoes are the most explosive type of volcano. Lava from composite volcanoes is thick and slow-moving, so they have very steep sides.

The third and most common type of volcano is known as a cinder volcano. Cinder volcanoes have steep sides like composite volcanoes. Small pieces of magma explode upwards from the vent, where they cool quickly in the air. As they fall, the cinders form a crater around the summit of the volcano.

Our Types of Volcanoes Activity for Upper KS2 gives your pupils the opportunity to sort and match statements relating to each of the three volcano types.

Volcanoes exist in one of three states: active, dormant and extinct. As the name suggests, an active volcano is defined as one that has erupted in the last 10 000 years and could erupt again soon. A dormant volcano is one that has erupted in the last 10 000 years but is not expected to erupt at any point in the near future. An extinct volcano is one that is never expected to erupt again.

Why do people live near active volcanoes?

We know that volcanoes can be very dangerous so why on earth would people choose to live anywhere near them?

One reason is that the soil around volcanoes is incredibly fertile and full of nutrients and minerals. Vesuvius, in the Bay of Naples, is the perfect example of this. Over two million people live and work within the shadow of Vesuvius, which last erupted in 1944. The slopes of Vesuvius are covered in vineyards and orchards, despite the possibility of further eruptions.

There are other reasons to live near volcanoes. Volcanoes often attract tourists who want to visit them. Where there are tourists, there are job opportunities for those who choose to live nearby. Another reason is that the geothermal activity that occurs around volcanic sites provides clean energy to power electrical appliances and is a good heating source for water and heating systems. This PowerPoint for Years 5-6 provides some real-life examples of people coexisting alongside active volcanoes and lists some of the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.

Living in the shadow of an active volcano can be fraught with uncertainty, and for this reason it is vital to have a volcano evacuation kit containing the essentials that would be needed in case of emergency evacuation, such as non-perishable food, water, a torch, first-aid kit and essential documents.

Find out more about how people plan and prepare for evacuation in the event of a volcanic eruption with this PowerPoint for Upper KS2. Alternatively, you could challenge your pupils to make the best evacuation kit they can with this fun card game.

What are some famous volcanic eruptions?

Each year there are over fifty volcanic eruptions worldwide. Not all these eruptions cause enough damage to make it into the news, but there are always exceptions.

Probably the most well-known volcanic eruption in history is Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Its huge eruption covered the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum, forever preserving them under a blanket of ash. Vesuvius is still active today and most recently erupted in 1944. Many tourists choose to trek up Vesuvius to walk around the rim and imagine what it would be like to witness an eruption of the magnitude of AD 79.

Iceland is a hotbed of volcanic activity. It sits on top of a geological hotspot and has the most active volcanoes in Europe. In December 2023, volcanic eruptions occurred in the Reykjeynes peninsula in the south-west of the island. A volcanic fissure opened, and lava began to flow towards the fishing town of Grindavik. Since then, four more eruptions have been recorded in the area. The town’s residents were evacuated, and many have chosen not to return.

Your pupils can carry out their own research into famous eruptions with this brilliant worksheet for Years 5-6. Perhaps they’d like to find out about the eruptions of Mount Etna (Sicily) in 1992 or Mount St. Helens (USA) in 1980.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our whistle-stop tour of volcanoes – we’ve certainly had a blast! Still, there’s always more to learn, but don’t worry: our volcano resources here on CGP+ have you covered.
 

I have been a teacher for just over 22 years, working mainly in Upper Key Stage 2. More recently, I have worked with Key Stage 1 children as part of the National Tutoring Programme, which has been very enjoyable, giving me a great insight into younger children’s unique view of the world! I have always enjoyed writing resources but often did not have time as a full-time class teacher. Teaching part-time and writing for CGP+ offers the perfect balance.

To see CGP+ resources written by Cathy, click here.