Lava Legend Teacher Guide
Lava Legend
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grades K-1
Science & Safety
Learning Objective
Students will categorize items as Hot/Danger or Safe/Cool and understand that volcanoes are dangerous sources of heat.
Materials Needed
- Lava Legend Presentation Slides
- Lava Logic Anchor Chart
- Heat Hazard Sorting Cards (Cut & Prepped)
- Gym mats or carpet spots for "Floor is Lava"
- Tape or glue for the anchor chart
Vocabulary
Magma
Melted rock underground.
Lava
Melted rock above ground.
Molten
Liquified by extreme heat.
Lesson Procedure
1
Hook: The Floor is Lava (5 min)
Place mats or carpet spots around the room. Explain that the floor is "magma" (underground heat). Students must stay on the "safe" islands. When you shout "VOLCANO!", they must find a new island without touching the floor.
2
Video: Don't Step in the Lava! (5 min)
Pause at these key moments for discussion:
- 1:04 (Toaster): Ask: "What happens when things get too hot?" (Burning/Melting).
- 1:24 (Ice Cream): Ask: "How does rock turn into liquid?" (Heat).
- 1:34 (Magma): Ask: "Where is magma found?" (Underground).
- 1:42 (Lava): Ask: "How is lava different from magma?" (It's on the surface).
3
Sorting Activity: Lava Logic (15 min)
Display the Lava Logic Anchor Chart. Hand out the Heat Hazard Cards to individual students or small groups. Have students come up one by one to place their card in the "Safe/Okay" or "Hot/Danger" column.
4
Creative Movement (10 min)
Call out locations from the video: "Swim in the water!", "Walk on the land!", "Climb the mountain!". Students act these out. When you shout "VOLCANO!", students must freeze in place and shout "Lava is Hot!"
5
Closure: Circle Time (5 min)
Ask each student to name one thing that is hot like lava. Reinforce the rule: "We never touch things that are hot/danger."
Discussion Anchors
0:39 - Safe Places
The Sun lists water and land as safe. Why are these safe? What makes the lava different?
1:25 - Melting Ice Cream
Why did the narrator compare rock to a melting ice cream cone? What does heat do to solids?
1:43 - Magma vs. Lava
Why do scientists use two different words for the same melted rock? (Inside vs. Outside).
1:54 - Volcano Vent
What is a "vent"? How does the magma get from under the ground to the surface?
Lava Legend Presentation Slides
Lava Legend
Hot Hazards vs. Safe Spots
Kindergarten Grade 1
The Floor is Lava!
How to Play
- 1 Stay on the "Safe Islands" (mats/spots).
- 2 The floor is hot magma!
- 3 When you hear "VOLCANO!" find a new island!
🌋
Watch & Sing Along!
Lava is Hot!
Embedded media
Volcano Talk
🍦
Melting
How does heat turn rock into liquid?
🕳️
Magma
Where do we find magma? (Hint: Underground!)
🌋
Lava
When does magma become lava?
Lava Logic Sorting
Safe & Okay
Cool things like water, land, and grass.
Hot & Danger
Burny things like lava, stoves, and sun.
Where does it go?
🍞 🍦 🔥 🌊
Freeze!
When you hear VOLCANO!
"LAVA IS HOT!"
Heat Hazard Sorting Cards
Heat Hazard Sorting Cards
Cut along the dotted lines for the Lava Logic activity.
🌋
LAVA
Hot / Danger
🌱
GRASS
Safe / Okay
☀️
SUN
Hot / Danger
🌊
WATER
Safe / Okay
🍞
TOASTER
Hot / Danger
🍦
ICE CREAM
Safe / Okay
🔥
STOVE
Hot / Danger
🏔️
MOUNTAIN
Safe / Okay
⛺🔥
CAMPFIRE
Hot / Danger
☃️
SNOWMAN
Safe / Okay
Teacher Tip:
These cards are designed to be large enough for young students to hold and present to the class during the anchor chart activity. You may wish to laminate them for repeated use!