Year 8 - Geography
Types of volcanoes
Tectonic hazards: Why is Earth restless?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit teaches pupils about the physical processes that lead to tectonic hazards and investigates the geographical pattern of hazards across the world. Pupils will also learn how tectonic hazards affect people in different places and how people seek to manage hazards.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to name the key features of volcanoes and explain how composite and shield volcanoes are formed.
Key Notes
- There are two main types of volcano: composite and shield volcanoes.
- Composite volcanoes are usually found at destructive plate boundaries and they are highly explosive volcanoes
- Shield volcanoes are usually found at constructive plate boundaries.
- Some eruptions are explosive, whereas others are effusive.
Vocabulary To Learn
- crust: the outer layer of Earth where our continents and oceans are and is the layer on which we live
- magma: molten or semi-molten rock underground
- mantle: the layer between Earth's outer core and crust. It is the largest layer of Earth and is mostly semi-molten lava
- destructive plate boundary: a boundary where two tectonic plates move together causing volcanoes and earthquakes
- constructive plate boundary: a boundary where two tectonic plates move apart, causing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Lava and magma can be used interchangeably.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
There are two main types of volcano: composite and shield volcanoes. Composite volcanoes are usually found at destructive plate boundaries and they are highly explosive volcanoes.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'crust'
the outer layer of Earth where our continents and oceans are and is the layer on which we live.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Lava and magma can be used interchangeably. Correction: Magma is molten rock underground, whereas lava is molten rock above Earth's surface.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Earthquakes Study Guide
- Inside Earth Study Guide
- Living close to volcanoes Study Guide
- Living in earthquake regions Study Guide
- Plate boundaries Study Guide
- The 2018 Sunda Strait Tsunami Study Guide
- The 2025 Myanmar Earthquake Study Guide
- The effects of earthquakes Study Guide
- The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo Study Guide
- The movement of tectonic plates Study Guide
- Volcanic hazards Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 8 Geography guide library.