Mount St. Helens blew its top and captured the imagination and fear of Americans everywhere.
Of course, the destruction brought on by Mount St. Helens was nothing compared to the devastation of Krakatoa or the splendor of Vesuvius.
However, apart from being volcanoes, all of these events managed to capture the imagination of everyone who lived on the Earth to see their majesty and might.
Volcanoes still have that power in the classroom, from what students read to making paper mache volcanoes. So, letting them think more deeply upon volcanoes through these prompts will help spark a longer interest for them, as well as inspiring some wonderful writing along the way!
How to Use These Writing Prompts
There are a lot of ways to use these prompts.
You can use them over an extended period of time, or use them all in a day.
They can be used to jump into a discussion or as prompts to get students to think about volcanoes internally.
At any rate, the goal of these prompts is to spark curiosity in volcanoes and help students understand their importance in our lives and on Earth.
After all, volcanoes are responsible from everything from natural disasters to the formation of land as we know it today.
The Writing Prompts About Volcanoes:
Here are thirty-three different writing prompts about volcanoes:
- What do you think it’s like to be near an erupting volcano?
- Are volcanoes scary? Why or why not?
- What are some potential after effects of a volcano?
- Is the initial eruption of a volcano worse than the after effects? Why or why not?
- What is volcanic rock, and how does it form?
- What is the Ring of Fire?
- If you could visit one volcano, which would it be?
- Would you want to see a volcano erupt in person?
- What type of impact do you think volcanic ash can have on the environment?
- How do volcanoes form islands?
- What are some famous volcanoes that you know? How do you know them?
- What does it mean for a volcano to blow its top?
- How long have volcanoes existed?
- Why are volcanoes important to how the Earth was formed?
- Some people think that it was volcanoes, and not a meteor, that killed the dinosaurs. Which do you think killed the dinosaurs? Why?
- Hot springs are considered to be a natural wonder that help you relax like a spa. They’re also a sign of a volcano. Would knowing this make it hard for you to relax? Why or why not?
- What do you think the worst volcanic eruption in American history is?
- What is a super volcano?
- Yellowstone National Park is known as one of the most beautiful parks in the world. Underneath it is a super volcano. Would you still want to visit the park? Why or why not?
- Do you think any animals can live in a volcano? Which ones?
- What does it mean for a volcano to be dormant?
- What does it mean for a volcano to be extinct?
- Are active volcanoes always dangerous? Why or why not?
- A volcanologist is someone who studies volcanoes. Does this sound like an interesting job? Why or why not?
- Geologists study rocks and rock formations. How might this intersect with knowledge about volcanoes?
- How are volcanoes and earthquakes related?
- If you discovered a new volcano, what would you do?
- Pompeii was an ancient city that was destroyed by a volcano called Mt. Vesuvius. Today, it’s known for being incredibly well preserved due to the eruption, with people stuck in the middle of their everyday lives. What do you think when the people of Pompeii thought when Mt. Vesuvius erupted?
- Do all volcanoes have to be mountains?
- What is the difference between magma and lava?
- What are some different types of rocks that can be formed by a volcano?
- What are some cultures where volcanoes are significant?
- Do you know any books or movies where volcanoes are prominent? Do these depictions match reality?
Looking for More Information?
There are resources throughout our website that can help you and any colleagues or friends who may also have an interest in all our writing and teaching resources.
Take a look at our national park prompts, or if you’re wanting something completely different, don’t forget to try our fantasy story ideas.
If there is anything missing from our website, make sure you let us know! Thanks.
