Planet Earth and Beyond – Volcanoes
The Science Learning Hub has many resources for primary teachers related to volcanoes in the Planet Earth and Beyond strand of the New Zealand Curriculum.
Children love to explore volcanoes – they are exciting. Volcanoes can erupt spectacularly, throwing molten rock into the air in pyrotechnic displays that are simply stunning. How do volcanoes work? Where do they form? How does this relate to us?
Volcanoes resources – planning pathways provides pedagogical advice and organises Hub volcanoes resources into key science concepts and topics.
Read on for information about volcanoes resources organised by New Zealand curriculum levels.
Measuring volcanic changes
GPS instruments pick up millimetre-sized changes in the shape of a volcano. Swelling can sometimes be an early sign of volcanic unrest.
Resources designed for use with NZC levels 1 and 2
On shaky ground – Introductory article
Shaky scientists and engineers – Article
Earthquakes and volcanoes – Article
New Zealand volcanoes – Article
Volcano map of New Zealand – Interactive
Under the Earth’s surface – Article
Rotorua caldera formation – Media
Calderas in the sandpit – Activity
Tectonic jigsaw puzzles – Activity
Resources designed for use with NZC levels 3 and above
Investgating volcanoes – Introductory article
Types of volcanoes – Article
Types of volcanic rock – Article
Magma on the move – Article
Volcanology methods – Article
Plate tectonics, volcanoes and earthquakes – Article
Auckland's volcanoes – Article
Auckland’s forgotten volcano – Article
Volcanoes in Auckland – Video
Volcano map of New Zealand – Interactive
Exploding Taupō – Article
Rotorua caldera formation – Media
Plates and quakes – Activity
World of quakes – Activity
Geonet – Video
Plate tectonics – Video
It’s bringing science into the 21st century using the Hub, isn’t it?
Mt Ruapehu
The highest mountain in the North Island (2,797 m) is a stratovolcano (a type of cone volcano). The volcano has three summits. Crater Lake is located in the current active crater close to the summit. Last erupted in 2007.
Acknowledgement: GeoNet
Classroom examples
Find out how teachers around New Zealand have used volcano resources in their classrooms.
Children making evidence-based decisions about volcanic risk – Article
Students’ evidence-based decision-making – Article
Science gives students the understanding to make decisions that will be more useful than if somebody just said ’Here’s a civil defence book. These are the things you need’. They can actually understand why they need these things and how their families will be affected.
Related information
Modelling tsunamis and protecting the coast – Article
Geonet – Video
Dating ice cores – Video
NASA infrared image of Mount St Helens – Image
Searching for the Pink and White Terraces – Article
Solander Island – an extinct volcano – Article
Volcanic giant found in the Pacific Ocean – Article
Examining lava flow cores
Examining lava flow cores from the extinct Tamu Massif volcano, from left, IODP Core Curator Chad Broyles (foreground), Expedition 324 IODP Project Manager Jörg Geldmacher, Expedition 324 Co-chief Scientist Takashi Sano, and the other Expedition 324 Co-chief Scientist William Sager.
