Learning objective
- To explain why volcanoes happen and where they occur.
Success criteria
- I can explain
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National curriculum
Geography
Locational knowledge
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Cross-curricular links
Science
Rocks (non-statutory)
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Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Recap and recall
Display the Presentation: Quizmaster and use the activity to recap learning from the previous lesson.
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Extended-mode explainer videos
How to extend your display to view the lesson page and presentation mode simultaneously. Choose your operating system below to watch the video
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Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac
Extended-mode explainer video: For Windows
Adaptive teaching
Pupils needing extra support
May just match up a few features of each volcano (most importantly, the shape of the sides and the name) and may need labels reading to them. Can research the meanings of active, dormant and extinct but may not find examples (they could write these in when you go through the answers).
Pupils working at greater depth
Could use Google Earth to find images of researched volcanoes and may want to research further into the Ring of Fire.
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Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: correctly labelling the features
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Vocabulary definitions
-
magma chamber
An area filled with magma underneath a volcano.
-
vent
The column inside a volcano in which magma flows.
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In this unit
Assessment - Geography Y3: Why do people live near volcanoes?
Lesson 1: How is the Earth constructed?
Lesson 2: Where are mountains found?
Lesson 3: Why and where do we get volcanoes?
Lesson 4: What are the effects of a volcanic eruption?
Lesson 5: What are earthquakes and where do we get them?
Lesson 6: Where have the rocks around school come from?
Maintained by: Kapow Primary team
Last update: 4th November, 2025
Contributors
Assessment – Geography Y3: Why do people live near volcanoes?
Assessment quiz and Knowledge catcher for use at the start and/or end of the unit...
Lesson 5: What are earthquakes and where do we get them?
Learning what earthquakes are, why they happen and where they often occur. Understanding some of...
Lesson 1: How is the Earth constructed?
Learning about the Earth's layers and their properties, and developing an understanding of tectonic plates.
Lesson 4: What are the effects of a volcanic eruption?
Developing an understanding of how volcanoes have negative and positive effects on a community, using...
