Caveat Academy course · Grades 2 to 5

Volcanoes and Earthquakes: how our restless planet works

Find out what is under your feet: the layers of the Earth, the giant plates that drift a few centimeters a year, why sticky magma explodes and runny magma flows, what happened at Kīlauea, Mount St. Helens and Pompeii, how a five-second gap between two waves tells you how far away an earthquake was, and exactly what to do when the ground starts to shake. Six modules at your own pace, with kitchen experiments along the way.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
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Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Elementary explorers set, $49 for 6 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 13 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: Our restless planet

    Describe Earth's layers and the three kinds of plate boundaries, and explain why most volcanoes and earthquakes line up along plate edges.

    • Inside the Earth
    • Plates that move
    • The Ring of Fire
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: How volcanoes work

    Explain how magma rises and erupts, tell shield, cinder cone and composite volcanoes apart and connect sticky or runny magma to gentle or explosive eruptions.

    • Magma, lava and the inside of a volcano
    • Three kinds of volcanoes
    • Gentle and explosive eruptions
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Famous volcanoes

    Compare the eruptions of Kīlauea, Mount St. Helens and Vesuvius and explain what each one teaches about volcanoes and warning signs.

    • Kīlauea and the Hawaiian hot spot
    • Mount St. Helens, 1980
    • Vesuvius and Pompeii
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: How earthquakes work

    Explain how faults store and release energy, compare P, S and surface waves and use the wave gap and magnitude steps in simple calculations.

    • Faults and the big slip
    • Waves that shake the ground
    • Measuring earthquakes
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Tsunamis, landslides and new land

    Explain how tsunamis, landslides, lahars and liquefaction happen, recognize natural tsunami warnings and describe how volcanoes also help people.

    • Tsunamis
    • Shaking, landslides and soft ground
    • The good things volcanoes give us
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Scientists and staying safe

    Explain how scientists watch for eruptions and earthquakes, and plan the right safety actions and supplies for an earthquake, a tsunami or falling ash.

    • How scientists watch volcanoes and faults
    • Drop, Cover and Hold On
    • Be ready: kits, plans and volcano safety
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 4 · Measuring earthquakes

Worked example: comparing two earthquakes

  1. Earthquake A is magnitude 5. Earthquake B is magnitude 7.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · Elementary$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished first course in Earth science: you can name and describe Earth's layers and the three kinds of plate boundaries, explain why most volcanoes and earthquakes sit along plate edges, tell shield, cinder cone and composite volcanoes apart, connect runny or sticky magma to gentle or explosive eruptions, tell the stories of Kīlauea, Mount St. Helens and Vesuvius, explain how faults store and release energy, use the gap between P and S waves to estimate distance, compare earthquakes by magnitude, recognize the natural warnings of a tsunami, and plan Drop, Cover and Hold On and a family emergency kit. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Children in grades 2 to 5 who are curious about volcanoes, earthquakes and how the Earth works, reading on their own or with a grown-up, and homeschool families looking for an Earth science unit with real numbers and hands-on experiments. Younger readers do best with an adult reading the lessons aloud. The experiments need only kitchen supplies such as honey, a ruler, sand and a bowl.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 13 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Elementary explorers set ($49) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The Elementary space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Volcano Hazards Program: volcano types, eruption styles, monitoring and alert levels: usgs.gov
  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program: faults, seismic waves, magnitude and how many earthquakes happen each year: usgs.gov
  3. National Park Service, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Kīlauea and the Hawaiian hot spot: nps.gov
  4. NOAA, U.S. Tsunami Warning System, tsunami science and natural warning signs: tsunami.gov
  5. Ready.gov, earthquake safety and building an emergency kit: ready.gov
  6. Earthquake Country Alliance, Drop, Cover and Hold On: earthquakecountry.org

Volcanoes and Earthquakes is a self-paced enrichment course from Caveat Academic Services. It teaches Earth science for grades 2 to 5; it does not replace a school science course and awards no credit. The safety lessons follow general national guidance from Ready.gov and the U.S. Geological Survey; local emergency officials and your school have the plan for where you live, and their instructions come first. Kitchen experiments need an adult nearby. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.