Eruption! An Island Rising from the Sea

Archive Now Available
Original Broadcast Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Awaiting you discovery is the fascinating world of active volcanism, biological diversity, and a legacy of Hawaiian culture at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Here, your students will get to see lava up close and learn of it's impact and eruption into the sky!

Volcanoes created the island chain at least 70 million years ago, and contiune to add land to the island of Hawai'i today. On this stop, the EFT Express takes students to two of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, where they get to the chance to uncover the geology behind these fiery mountains and the biological and cultural history that surrounds them.

Legend explains that Pele, the goddess of fire, controls these lava flows. More than 1,600 years ago, her people first migrated to these islands and developed a unique Hawaiian culture. Join the EFT Express as we meet these fascinating people, their island world, their goddess of fire Pele, and the animal and plant life they share it with!

Hawai'i is home to many animals, insects, and plants found nowhere else on Earth. this astounding diversity of life that flourished on these isolated, once barren volcanic islands, bears witness to the force of evolution and the tenacity of life.

Electronic Field Trips have a complete curriculum website for teachers with lots more lesson plans, and fun, educational content for your students. Registration is required, but it's free with a Best Buy Children's Foundation Scholarship. If you haven't signed up, you can register here.

If you have the login and password for the Eruption! web site, you can check it out at bsu.edu/eft/volcanoes/.

Don't forget to watch our newest creation -- Webisodes! They are now available on ALI in the righthand column at the top of this page.

YOUR TURN! ACTIVITIES
The Formation of a Caldera

In this lesson students will trace the path of magma from origin to eruption, compare and contrast calderas and craters and explain how calderas and craters form.

Explosive vs. Non-Explosive Eruptions

In this lesson, students will learn the difference between explosive and non-explosive volcanic eruptions.

Kahili

Kahili (kah-HEE-lee) are feathered standards used in ancient times by Hawaiian royalty. A kahili appeared when a royal person was approaching. In this lesson, students will learn the cultural significance of Kahili and create their own.