Learning is hot stuff at Upton Juniors in Broadstairs – especially when the subject is fiery erupting volcanoes.

Cracking the Earth’s Core is the challenge for Year 4 children who are investigating how earthquakes occur and how volcanoes are formed.

A special WOW Day saw pupils take part in a range of themed activities. They created and painted picture of a volcanic eruption by using cotton buds and made a 3D volcano using sugar paper and tissue paper.

Guest visitor Tom from One Day Creative used drama to teach the children about the myths around volcanoes and earthquakes from different cultures, while Anna from PrimeVR helped transport the group to different volcanoes around the world, watching real footage of them erupting in 3D.

During their normal lessons they continued with an English text called ‘I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens', an historical fiction based on the 1980 eruption in America, witnessed by an 11-year-old girl who watched in terror and awe as the mountain exploded with the power of ten million tons of dynamite.

They wrote a setting description of the mountain before and after the eruption, focusing on using figurative language. They brought it to life by acting out a scene from the text and created a storyboard with the images.

They are also discovering the story of Mount Pelée's devastating 1902 eruption in Martinique, where a powerful pyroclastic flow (hot ash/gas cloud) from the volcano obliterated the city of Saint-Pierre, killing nearly all its 30,000 inhabitants in minutes. Their descriptive challenge is to write a newspaper report based on the details.

The learning continues at home where pupils are invited to delve into the topic by exploring the subject further and putting together work such as a presentation, a poster or other creative efforts to bring in to school.

Head of Year 4 Nikki Lewis said: “The WOW Day was extra special. The group was so enthusiastic and really enjoyed the various activities that dovetail in with this fascinating topic that is weaving its way through their learning this term.

“Pupils are really embracing all the different elements to gain a varied, balanced and informed overview of earthquakes and volcanoes in our world.”

Upton Juniors is part of the Viking Academy Trust with partner schools Chilton Primary and Ramsgate Arts Primary.

*For more information contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393.