Lesson Plan - 5 Big Questions About Hawaii’s Volcanoes

Watch a Video: Into the Volcano
Discuss: What are the different types of volcanoes described in the video? How do their eruptions differ?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know. 

• magma
• volcanologist

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about how volcanoes affect people in Hawaii. 

1. What are shield volcanoes, and why did they get this name?
Shield volcanoes are wide volcanoes with gentle slopes that formed as lava built up and spread out over time. They got this name because they look like a warrior’s shield lying on the ground.
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2. Did the fall 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa surprise scientists? Explain.
No, scientists expected Mauna Loa to erupt last fall. They had been noticing more earthquakes within the volcano. That was a sign that magma was rising toward the surface.
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3. What dangers can Hawaii’s volcanoes present?
Lava from Hawaii’s volcanoes can destroy homes, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Eruptions can also create volcanic smog, or “vog.” Vog can cause headaches and sore throats and make it hard for people to breathe.
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FEATURED SKILL: Paired Texts
Use the Skill Builder “Pele’s Power” to have students learn about the Native Hawaiian folklore surrounding Hawaii’s volcanoes.
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