The Power of Volcanoes – Escaping Pompeii
This engaging short course dives into the explosive world of volcanoes, blending science, geography, and creative arts. Throughout this course, students will explore how volcanoes shape our world through interactive activities. From constructing erupting models to creating volcanic tour advertisements, this course allows students to understand the power of volcanoes in an exciting, hands-on way. By the end of the week, they’ll be volcano experts with their own certificate to prove it!
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 4: Quality Education
Goal 13: Climate Action
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
100% Free Course
What is this Course About?
Join us for a volcanic adventure where we’ll learn about the Earth’s most powerful natural wonders. The week begins with a video showcasing an eruption in Iceland, leading into activities like mapping fault lines, designing volcanic tours, and creating a clay volcano that erupts! As we discover the science behind volcanoes, students will use their creativity to bring these lessons to life, whether through drawing, writing, or hands-on projects. We’ll even step into history, imagining what it would have been like to witness the destruction of Pompeii. This course encourages students to combine science, art, and storytelling to explore the amazing world of volcanoes.
Skills We Will Cover
- Scientific Inquiry: Learn how volcanoes form and erupt by studying real-world data and watching live volcanic activity in videos.
- Creative Expression: Build your own erupting volcano and design a tour advertisement to showcase the beauty and danger of these natural wonders.
- Geography and Mapping: Discover where volcanoes are located around the world by mapping tectonic plates and fault lines.
- Critical Thinking: Explore how volcanic activity impacts the Earth and how humans manage these risks.
- Problem-Solving: Use mathematical skills to calculate lava volumes and pressure statistics, applying real-world data to your learning.
- Storytelling: Write a short story imagining yourself as a survivor of the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius, bringing history to life.
What Will We Create?
By the end of this course, students will have created several exciting projects, including a clay volcano that erupts, a detailed volcanic diagram, and an advertisement for a volcanic tour. They will also map out the world’s most active volcanoes and write a short story as if they survived an eruption. All work will be displayed in a classroom showcase, where students can proudly present their newfound knowledge.
Lesson Plans
Teachers will have access to detailed lesson plans aligned with Science, Geography, Mathematics, and English curriculum standards. These plans guide teachers through each activity, ensuring that learning is interactive, engaging, and informative. Students will connect scientific principles with creative expression, fostering a deeper understanding of volcanic processes.
Real-World Learning
This course ties science and creativity to real-world learning. From building erupting models to mapping fault lines and imagining life during an eruption, students will apply their knowledge in practical, hands-on ways. By blending creative expression with scientific inquiry, this course promotes critical thinking and a deeper appreciation of Earth’s dynamic systems.
Special Feature: The Survivor’s Story
As part of this course, students will have the opportunity to unleash their creativity by writing a 24-page short story based on surviving the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. They’ll step into the shoes of someone living in Pompeii, imagining the sights, sounds, and emotions experienced as the city was engulfed by ash. Through vivid descriptions and personal reflections, students will bring history to life, showcasing their understanding of volcanoes and their impact on human lives.
What Makes This Special?
Once completed, students can upload their finished short stories to the Upschool library for the world to read. This means their work won’t just stay in the classroom—it will have the chance to inspire readers from all over the globe! Students will also have the option to order a printed copy of their book, complete with illustrations and a personal author bio, making this a real-world writing achievement.
Share Your Story with the World
This project is not just about writing; it’s about becoming a published author. Students can upload their own version of the story to the Upschool library, where it will be displayed alongside other works from children around the world. The Survivor’s Story offers a unique way for children to engage with history, practice creative writing, and take pride in seeing their work published for a global audience.
By the end of the course, every student will have a complete, short story that combines historical understanding with imaginative storytelling.
