This half term, we have been learning about Disasters. This is linked to natural disasters; volcanoes, earthquakes and flooding.

Through this topic area, we built up an understanding about how natural disasters happen and why they happen.

Volcanoes

A volcano is a landform (usually a mountain) where molten rock erupts through the surface of the planet.

In simple terms a volcano is a mountain that opens downward to a pool of molten rock (magma) below the surface of the earth. It is a hole in the Earth from which molten rock and gas erupt.

Magma is liquid rock inside a volcano.

Lava is liquid rock (magma) that flows out of a volcano. Fresh lava ranges from 1,300° to 2,200° F (700° to 1,200° C) in temperature and glows red hot to white hot as it flows.

What are the three layers the Earth is made of?

1. 1. Crust
      The crust is the outer layer of Earth. It is about 18 miles thick. It is the part we live on.
   2. Mantle
      The second layer is called the mantle. It is about 1,800 miles thick.
   3. Core
      The inner layer is called the core

What causes a volcanic eruption?

The Earth's crust is made up of huge slabs called plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. These plates sometimes move. Between the Earth's crust and the mantle is a substance called magma which is made of rock and gases. When two plates collide, one section slides on top of the other, the one beneath is pushed down.  Magma is squeezed up between two plates.