VOLCANO DREAMS: Classroom & STEAM Research Activities

Best Users: Educators, School Librarians, After School Organizations, Home Learning
Best Audience: Children Grades 02-05

 

ACTIVITIES

“As the sun rises, something is sleeping in Yellowstone.”   —Volcano Dreams

What is sleeping? Neither the wolves, moose, bears, nor buffalo of Yellowstone are sleeping. There is no sleep for the mud pots, steam vents, or geyers, either. The author and illustrator of Volcano Dreams, both with degrees in Geology, take us below Yellowstone National Park to the the sleeping volcano beneath. Readers will come to understand the complex host of life and geological marvels that the sleeping giant created or contributes to.

Award-winning STEM educator and school librarian Suzanne Costner and Curious City invite readers to dig deep at the library and into their own curiosity to:

— Conduct a geyser experiment
— Research & report on the geological features of the park
— Make observations about the locations of volcanoes
— Research & report on a volcano
— Draw volcano cross-sections
— Write a poem about a volcano

Classroom & STEAM Research Activities
DOWNLOAD Volcano Dreams: Classroom STEAM Activities (PDF)

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Volcano Dreams: A Story of Yellowstone
By Janet Fox
Illustrated by Marlo Garnsworthy
Published by Web of Life Children’s Books
ISBN-13: 9780988330382
Age Range: 5 – 9 Years

Lyrical prose and luminous paintings lead readers on a tour of the Yellowstone supervolcano, from the wolves, elk, bears, and mountain goats that roam its surface to the fiery depths of its magma chamber. Volcano Dreams knits together the vibrancy of the Yellowstone ecosystem with its explosive history, placing the everyday lives of its creatures within the context of geological time. Janet Fox’s poetic text takes us to the root of it all––– the “sleeping giant” of magma responsible for the Yellowstone landscape-–and Marlo Garnsworthy’s evocative paintings capture the awe of natural forces at work in our nation’s oldest national park.

“…This book makes a clever connection between the geology and the wildlife of America’s first national park. A gentle text and scenic illustrations depict various animals’ activities throughout the day. Then, attention turns to what’s happening underground, the processes that result in the bubbling mud pots, hissing steam vents, and roaring geysers. Fox describes a time when the volcano erupted, noting the lasting effects in the rocks and plant cover, and, finally, the narrative returns to the animals, now ready for sleep. The metaphor is accessible even to young listeners, and the effect is soothing rather than frightening. The text and translucent frames for the animal scenes are set directly on double-page illustrations done with pencil, watercolor collage, and digital oil paints. These realistic images show the large animals described in the text—wolf, moose, bear, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mountain lion, coyote—and smaller ones that can be found by the curious child and easily identified by a knowledgeable adult reader. A helpful map on the title page shows the outlines of the caldera within the park; the backmatter includes a glossary of volcano-related words and more about this long-dormant “supervolcano.” The author’s first picture book reflects her own appreciation for this national treasure, which could inspire family visits. An unusual and appealing addition to the sense-of-wonder shelf.”
—Kirkus Review