In spite of the unpredictability of volcanoes, scientists have learned to read the many signs they display prior to an eruption, in the hope of minimizing damage to lives and personal property. This video segment describes efforts of scientists at the Pinatubo Volcanic Observatory to read the signs presented by Mount Pinatubo, just before it unleashed one of the most powerful eruptions of the 20th ... Full description.

Students can learn how an earth scientist studies volcanic rocks by first visiting volcanoes to get a closer look and to collect rock samples, and by recreating the conditions of a magma chamber in the lab. The gas in a bottle of soda is used as an analogy to explain why some eruptions are explosive. The scientist starts by collecting pumice, a light rock filled with holes like a sponge, because it ... Full description.

Eruption! is a volcanic crisis simulation model that showcases a series of villages that surround an active volcano and is part of the Interactive Models for Geological Education Online (IMGEO) series. The goal of the exercise is to preserve as many people and as much property as possible in spite of the threat from the volcano. Students role-play as villagers, the governor, volcanologists, and the ... Full description.

This activity is an active simulation of an explosive volcanic eruption. The model volcano is a plastic 35 mm film cannister that erupts (the lid blows off) when gas pressure generated by dissolving alka seltzer is sufficiently high. It is realistic in that the timing of the eruption is difficult to predict precisely and in that the eruption occurs when the pressure of the gas exceeds the confining ... Full description.

This video segment shows how scientists collaborate to collect and chemically analyze samples of molten lava as part of their quest to learn more about how volcanoes work. Working at Kilauea volcano, scientists collect samples of lava before it has a chance to cool so they can study the chemical properties it had when it was deep within Earth's interior. The samples are sent to a laboratory where ... Full description.

This National Park Service (NPS) website highlights the natural resources of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Topics covered include the geologic history of the area, threatened and endangered species, geologic activity, geologic formations, soils, seeps and springs, and volcanoes and lava flows. There are links for more information on the Colorado Plateau and other lava fields. Full description.

The Sleeping Mountain role playing scenario is part of the Starting Point Teaching Collection. In this scenario, students represent townspeople whose lives and livelihoods are endangered by an active volcano which may or may not erupt in the near future. They must debate whether to invest in or to abandon their town. The site outlines the roles and includes a description of the original, real volcano ... Full description.

This text reports on the experiences of a science teacher who joined a research expedition to study deep sea vents in the Pacific Ocean. It offers an engaging and informative overview of topics including the peaks, valleys, and plains that form the floor of the ocean and the internal heat that cracks the crust and causes it to move along plate boundaries. It also explains why submarine volcanoes form ... Full description.

This interactive resource adapted from the National Park Service explains the difference between explosive or effusive (lava pours from a vent onto the ground) volcanic eruptions, and describes the hazards associated with each type of eruption. Full description.

Through an electronic peer review assignment, students write a general summary of major hazards to humans in the vicinity of volcanoes. Then, students are provided a list of volcanoes and must choose one to determine what actions they would take to minimize the risks to a population. This activity is detailed on this Starting Point site, which includes its learning goals, context for use, teaching ... Full description.