Active, Dormant, or Extinct?

Science · Volcanoes & Earthquakes · ages 7-9

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which kind of volcano will never erupt again?
- Active
- Dormant
- Extinct
Which kind of volcano could erupt at any time?
- Active
- Dormant
- Extinct
A dormant volcano is quiet now, but it could wake up and erupt someday.
Circle one: True False
A volcano hasn't erupted in 100 years, but scientists still watch it closely. Why?
- Because dormant volcanoes are always the tallest
- Because it has used up all its magma
- Because it is dormant and could still erupt again
A volcano erupted just 1 year ago. What is it most likely classified as?
- Dormant
- Active
- Extinct
If a volcano hasn't erupted in 50 years, it must be extinct.
Circle one: True False
A volcano erupted 10 years ago and still lets out steam sometimes. Which classification fits, and why?
- Extinct, because 10 years feels like a long time
- Dormant, because it is completely silent
- Active, because recent eruptions and steam show it could erupt again
Jamal says, 'This volcano hasn't erupted in 200 years, so it will never erupt again.' What mistake did Jamal make?
- He is completely right
- He mixed up dormant with extinct, and a dormant volcano can still erupt
- He should have said the volcano is active

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Extinct · Extinct volcanoes have no magma left underground, so scientists agree they cannot erupt again.
Active · Active volcanoes have erupted recently or show signs of magma that could erupt soon.
True · Dormant means sleeping, not dead. The magma is still down there.
Because it is dormant and could still erupt again · A dormant volcano still has magma underground, so it could become active again even after a long quiet time.
Active · Erupting only 1 year ago means it could easily erupt again soon, so it counts as active.
False · Fifty quiet years does not prove a volcano is extinct. It could still be dormant with magma waiting below.
Active, because recent eruptions and steam show it could erupt again · Recent eruptions and ongoing steam are both signs of magma activity close to the surface, so this volcano is active.
He mixed up dormant with extinct, and a dormant volcano can still erupt · 200 quiet years makes a volcano dormant, not extinct. Only volcanoes with no magma left are called extinct.