Volcanoes are usually mountainous, but do not always take this form. They are landforms where hot molten rock and erupt through cracks in the surface of the Earth. They can even be found under water in oceans. The Pacific Ocean area is literally packed with them. There are thought to be just over one-thousand five-hundred active volcanoes in the world. When they erupt, they release hazardous gases, rock, ash, and molten rock (lava). An eruption can also create mudslides and avalanches depending on the surrounding terrain. When an eruption occurs, it creates a clear and present danger for a twenty-mile radius for it. Eruptions difference in the level of activity. Some eruptions are subtle, and others are explosively violent. The dangers in eruptions are often misunderstood. Many people fear succumbing to melting lava flows, but this actually ranks very low on the actual volcanic hazards list because lava advances at about six mile per hour, which is not especially fast. The real danger in a volcanic eruption is expulsion of hot gases and ash as they can choke out all life that they encounter.

These worksheets will begin by explore the fundamental structure of a volcano and get familiar with what is where. We will then look at how they form and where they are located geographically. Students will explore why volcanoes erupt and how to predict this or have a good understanding of when it may occur. We will look at lava flows and how to classify them. We will then look at what we as humans have discovered about volcanoes on own planet and others. The worksheets include the basic anatomy, formation, classification, and locations of these natural wonders. We also look at the concept of Tsunamis.