8 – 9

Volcanoes

Video

Volcanoes

What to do with this activity?

A volcano is usually a mountain where the liquid rock from the earth's hot centre is just beneath the surface. Every now and then a volcano somewhere in the world erupts, sending out lava (liquid rock), ash and hot gasses. Remember the eruptions in 2010 from the Icelandic volcano with a very complicated name? The ash cloud from that volcano grounded air flights all over Europe for weeks.

There are well over a thousand active volcanoes in the world, and some of them are under the sea. Volcanoes are more common where the continental plates meet  - watch a short video from the BBC.  

This youtube video from Twig World is slightly longer and goes into more detail; or you can read about volcanoes on the Weather Wiz Kidz website.

One of the most famous volcano disasters in history is the destruction of the Roman city of Pompeii in AD 79. Around 16,000 people died. If you are interested, watch this fascinating video reconstruction of that event. And don't worry, there are no active volcanoes in Ireland.

  • Why am I doing this?

    Reading is like a muscle – the more your child practises it the stronger their ability to read becomes. Reading with your child, encouraging them and giving them space to read makes reading part of their everyday lives.
     

  • How can I do more?

    Talk to your child about which books they liked and what they think would be good to read next. Look out for other activities for your child’s age group in your local library.
    Use magazines and newspapers for ideas, words and facts. Use the pictures as well as the words. Show your child different types of books - storybooks but also poetry and factual books for children, for example on nature, animals or insects. Encourage your child’s interest in reading about topics they enjoy, for example animals, music and football. Enjoying reading is the most important thing. 

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