| Lesson Plan |
| Grade: |
Date: 25/02/2026 |
| Subject: Geography |
| Lesson Topic: Explosive and effusive eruptions and their main hazards: lava flows, tephra and ash falls, volcanic mudflows/lahars, volcanic landslides, pyroclastic flows (nuées ardentes), jökulhlaups, toxic gases |
Learning Objective/s:
- Describe the key differences between explosive and effusive eruptions and the magma properties that control them.
- Identify the main volcanic hazards and explain their immediate and long‑term impacts on people and the environment.
- Analyse mitigation and monitoring strategies for each hazard, using real‑world examples.
- Evaluate risk‑management approaches and propose appropriate actions for a selected volcanic scenario.
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Materials Needed:
- Projector and screen
- PowerPoint slides with eruption diagrams
- Handouts summarising hazards and mitigation measures
- Physical samples or high‑resolution images of volcanic rocks and ash
- Interactive digital map (e.g., Google Earth) showing affected zones
- Whiteboard and markers
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Introduction:
Show a brief 1‑minute video clip of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption to capture interest. Ask students what they already know about volcanic eruptions and the dangers they pose. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to differentiate eruption types, list major hazards, and suggest appropriate mitigation measures.
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Lesson Structure:
- Do‑now (5') – Quick quiz on basic volcano terminology to activate prior knowledge.
- Mini‑lecture (10') – Compare explosive vs. effusive eruptions using slides and a diagram of magma viscosity and gas content.
- Hazard stations (20') – Small groups rotate through seven stations (lava flows, ash falls, lahars, landslides, pyroclastic flows, jökulhlaups, toxic gases), examining images, data sheets, and completing a worksheet.
- Whole‑class synthesis (10') – Each group presents the key impacts and mitigation for their assigned hazard; teacher adds monitoring techniques.
- Risk‑management discussion (10') – Teacher leads a discussion on monitoring tools (seismic networks, GPS, gas sensors) and real‑world case studies.
- Exit ticket (5') – Students write one specific mitigation strategy for a hazard of their choice.
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Conclusion:
Recap how eruption style determines the type of hazards and why effective monitoring is essential for risk reduction. Collect exit tickets, then assign a short homework task: research a recent volcanic eruption, describe the hazards encountered, and evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation measures applied.
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