The impact of eruptions: Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
I can describe and explain the forces at work when volcanoes erupt, and how these may alter the landscape and environment.
The impact of eruptions: Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
I can describe and explain the forces at work when volcanoes erupt, and how these may alter the landscape and environment.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Iceland is located on the Mid Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates diverge.
- The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull occurred on 14 April 2010 and continued for over one month.
- Heat from the eruption caused the glacier covering Eyjafjallajökull to melt and the resulting flood water damaged roads.
- Ash from the eruption rose high into the atmosphere and grounded aircraft, impacting on the European economy.
Keywords
Diverge - To diverge is to go in different directions from the same starting point
Economy - The economy is the way money in a particular area is made and spent
Meltwater - Meltwater is water from the melting of snow or ice
Common misconception
Pupils assume that all volcanic eruptions cause fatalities.
Fatalities are reduced through detection and warning systems; evacuation procedures; emergency service response, training and funding. Iceland is very well prepared for volcanic eruptions.
To help you plan your year 4 geography lesson on: The impact of eruptions: Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 geography lesson on: The impact of eruptions: Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 geography lessons from the Mountains and volcanoes: what, where and why? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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