Volcano MadnessCinder, Composite, and Shield

Nashua Way

Arizona Geographic Alliance TC

Frontier Elementary

4th grade

Overview

• Volcanoes have shaped the landscape of Arizona. Where is evidence of volcanoes found in Arizona? How did the volcanoes impact this area?

Standards

National Geography Standards Physical Systems #7: The physical processes that

shape the patterns of earth’s surface.

Arizona Geography StandardsStrand 4 Concept 1 World in Spatial Terms

• PO 4 Describe characteristics of human and physical features

A. physical ---volcanoes

• PO 7 Locate physical or human features in Arizona using maps, illustrations or images

Concept 2 Places and Regions

• PO 1 compare the landform regions of Arizona according to their physical features

Standards

Concept 3 Physical Systems Connect with Science

• Describe how natural events and human activities impact environments

Science Strand 6 Concept 2 –earth’s processes and systems • Understand the processes acting on the earth

Arizona Science Standards

Science Strand 6 Concept 2 –earth’s processes and systems

• PO 1 Identify the earth processes that cause erosion

• PO 4 Compare rapid and slow processes that change the earth’s surface, including: rapid- earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, slow-wind, weathering

• PO 5 Identify the earth events that cause changes in atmospheric conditions (e.g., volcanic eruptions, forest fires)

Purpose

• In this lesson students will gain a better understanding of the three types of volcanoes and how they are formed. Students will also identify and locate volcanoes found throughout Arizona. Students will describe how volcanoes have impacted Arizona.

Materials

• Volcano transparency (label parts of volcano)

• Map of the Landform Regions of Arizona

• Key to locations of volcanoes in AZ

• Volcano Types (handout)

• Paper, pencil, and colored pencils

• Scoring Guide – Types of Volcanoes

Objectives

The student will be able to:

• Identify the three types of volcanoes: shield, cinder cone, and composite

• Draw each type of volcano: shield, cinder cone, and composite

• Identify and locate volcanoes found in Arizona

• Describe how volcanoes have changed Arizona

Procedures

Prerequisite Skills: • Students should be familiar with how

volcanoes are formed and be able to identify the basic components of a volcano (magma chamber, vent, magma, and lava)

Class Period One

1. Pass out a piece of paper and have the students draw and label the parts of a volcano (magma chamber, vent, magma, and lava). Have the students share their picture with a partner.

2. Ask the students:• Do all of the volcanoes look the same?

Why or why not?• What would cause the volcanoes to

look different? (eruptions) 

Procedures

3. Discuss the three types of volcanoes (have students fill in the handouts)

 4. Explain the scoring guide.

Students will now create their own volcanoes.

Procedures

Class Period Two  1. Have students identify and locate

volcanoes located in Arizona on the map of the Landform Regions of Arizona.

2. Where are most of the volcanoes found? Is there one area in particular or are they all over Arizona?

Procedures

3. Create a cause and effect diagram. When a volcano erupts (cause) what happens (effect)?

– the surface of the land rapidly changes as the lava flows and cools, holes are created in the earth, rocks are blasted into the air, volcanic lava is very hot and can destroy everything in its path, gases released by volcanoes can be poisonous.

– Positive effects: the development of new crust on the continents, volcanic ash is blown over the area and increases soil fertility, groundwater heated by large, still-hot magma bodies can be tapped for

geothermal energy

Assessments

• The students’ drawings will be assessed using the scoring guide. Mastery will be considered a score of 80% or higher.

Assessments

• Students will also answer the following question using complete sentences:

– When a volcano erupts, what are 5 effects? Use complete sentences.

– Mastery will be considered correctly identifying 4 of the 5 effects of volcanic eruptions. (must be written using complete sentences)

Extensions

• Research the most current volcanic eruption in Arizona. Were there people in the area? If so, how did it effect the people that were living in the area? Have students explain both the positive and negative effects of volcanoes.

 

Extensions

Have students pretend to be a Sinagua Indian living in the area when Sunset Crater exploded. They would write a first hand account of what happened that day.

Types of Volcanoes

Volcano ~ is a mountain that forms when red-hot melted rock flows through a crack onto the earth’s surface.

Shield ~ are large mountains with gentle slopes. They form from runny lava.

Cinder ~ are small volcanoes made of hardened lava chunks called cinders.

Composite ~ are medium-sized mountains. They are made up of layers of lava that alternate with layers of cinders. These mountains have steep peaks and gently sloping sides.

Grade level: 4th grade

Time: 2 class periods