Six step cards in mixed order are numbered 1 to 6 on page 1 of this 4th grade science sheet, from rock melting deep underground to lava cooling into new rock. Page 2 has two written questions, one on how volcanoes made the Hawaiian Islands and one on whether an eruption changes the land fast or slowly. A photo of an erupting island volcano sits beside the first question. Page 3 is the answer key.
“Put the stages of a volcanic eruption in order.”
The six cards on page 1.
“Explain how repeated eruptions build new land such as an island.”
Question 1 on page 2.
“Decide whether an eruption changes the land quickly or slowly, and give a reason.”
Question 2 on page 2.
Six cards, each with a Step blank, such as magma rises through the conduit, gas and pressure build up, and magma bursts out of the vent as lava, ash and gas. Students number them 1 to 6.
Question 1 asks how volcanoes made the Hawaiian Islands and has five lines. Question 2 asks whether an eruption is a fast or a slow change to the land and has five lines for the explanation.
A number for each card, the full sequence in one paragraph, and model answers: islands built up layer by layer from undersea eruptions, and an eruption as a fast change.
Cut and sort
Photocopy page 1 and cut the cards apart. Let groups arrange them before anyone writes a number. The argument about where gas and pressure fit is the useful part.
Hawaii link
Show Hawaii on a map before question 1. Students then write about islands they can place, not an abstract idea.
Fast or slow
Question 2 has a catch, because one eruption takes hours but building an island takes many. The key answers fast, so steer students to the time one eruption takes.
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