Curriculum Materials

Students are introduced to the study of geology. They will learn about what is hidden beneath the surface of the Earth and how the geology of the Earth gives shape to the landscape. They will learn about the theory of plate tectonics and how the movement of these plates affects the world around us.

Using the powers of observation, students learn the importance of our native forest and trees to humans in every day life.

This lesson introduces students to hot spot theory and how it relates to plate tectonics. It also compares and contrasts composite and shield volcanoes and introduces students to the theory behind the formation of the Hawaiian Islands. Students will learn how to classify Hawaiian volcanoes according to their activity and location as active, dormant and extinct.

Students will learn about the evolution of a volcanic island from origin to erosion. They will understand that Hawaiian volcanoes have gradually progressed through different stages as they are formed, emerge, and erode back into the sea from which they came.

This lesson begins with the video (or graphic novel) “Pele Searches for a Home”. Students will compare Pele’s journey through the islands depicted in this Hawaiian legend with the scientific geologic theory of the creation of the Hawaiian Islands.

Night Sky over Kīlauea Caldera NPS Photo/Janice Wei

Introduction to Volcanoes in Hawaiʻi - The following are suggested classroom activities to precede a visit to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park or an outdoor field trip in another location. They can be used as stand-alone activities, or in the suggested sequence.

This module was primarily designed for an on-site visit to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. However, it can be adjusted for an outdoor field trip to another volcanic area, or anywhere that will demonstrate geological processes.

These final classroom activities allow students to contemplate the risks involved in living in areas subject to natural disasters. They can investigate their local emergency response plans, learn from family or friends about natural disaster experiences, and synthesize what they have learned.

The often dramatic and voluminous eruptions that occur on Kīlauea volcano can wipe out forest far from the actual eruption site. Using this field trip guide, students examine the aftermath of one such eruption on location; using scientific practice and historical evidence to understand the changes caused by the eruption, and how the land in the area is still changing today.