Hawaiian Volcanoes

We have begun our study of the volcanic origins of the Hawaiian Islands.  Over the next few weeks, we will be studying how our islands came to be.  We have begun by reading the Hawaiian legend of Maui, the demi-god.  He fished up the islands with his magic fishhook.  When his line snapped, the hook flew into the sky, forming the constellation Ka Maka Nui o Maui, The Big Fishhook of Maui.  These stars also make up the constellation Scorpius.

We will be comparing the Hawaiian legends of Maui and Pele to the scientific theories of plate tectonics and hot spots.  The students will learn about the Pacific plate, its movements, and the Ring of Fire.  We will explore the hot spot theory, and the formation of the Hawaiian archipelago.  We will study the different types of volcanoes, their structure, and the different rock types produced by volcanic activity.

We will also look at a variety of Hawaiian Maui legends and, when available, the same legends from other parts of Polynesia.  Then the students will be writing their own legends of Maui, using their creativity to answer a natural history question that in their minds is still unanswered.

Before any of this study began, I asked the students two questions.  What do you know about Hawaiian volcanoes or any other volcanoes?  What would you like to learn about Hawaiian volcanoes or volcanoes in general?  Here were their responses:

Volcanoes: What I Know
HT: Volcanoes are made out of rock.
ER: Volcanoes are formed underwater.
PY: Lava comes out of a volcano.
AY: There is gas in a volcano.
RS: Diamond Head is a volcano.
BOC: There are two different types of lava rocks.
CK: Lava will burn your skin.
JC: There are no volcanoes on O'ahu.
AD: It takes years for volcanoes to form.
AB: Volcanoes start underwater.
RC: The Big Island is one big volcano.
LR: Volcanoes help make the temperature of the water just right for animals to drink.
EY: Volcanoes have lots of lava rocks.
ST: Volcano lava can become rock.
NK: Lava is like fire but different.
KH: There is a circle of volcanoes that is called the "ring of fire."
DE: Volcanoes are made in the ocean because currents crash against each other underwater, which forms volcanoes to come up.
JM: Pele is the goddess of volcanoes.
NWK: A volcano is a vent from the outer core through the mantle and crust to the surface.  There it spews molten rock and metals.  When the ash and magma cool, the magma becomes igneous rock.
KL: There is a volcano in Kilauea.

Volcanoes: What I Want to Know
NWK: How are volcanoes formed?
JM: What are all the volcanoes' names?
DE: What was the deadliest volcano that exploded in the past?
KH: How big can a volcano get?
NK: How do people predict the volcano will erupt?
ST: How do volcanoes or lava get their heat?
EY: Which volcano is the smallest?
LR: How do scientists get all the stones and rocks?
RC: How many volcanoes are on the island of Maui?
AB: How many volcanoes are there in the world?
AD: What is the first volcano's name?
JC: How many volcanoes are in all the Hawaiian Islands?
CK: How many volcanoes are on the Big Island?
BOC: How many volcanoes are in the world?
RS: What happens to the people when the volcano erupts and lava comes out?
KL: Where is the biggest volcano in Hawaii?
AY: Does smoke from the volcano create global warming?
PY: How long does it take for volcanoes to erupt?
ER: How many volcanoes are still active in the world?
HT: Are volcanoes born in the ocean?

As you can see, the children already know a lot, but there is still so much more to learn!  I truly look forward to this study with the children.  It is always exciting to see their understanding of the world, both scientific and cultural, grow.

Posted on September 19, 2008 10:13 AM | Permalink