The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why Mount Nyiragongo erupted and the impacts of the eruption.
Key learning points
- Mount Nyiragongo is a volcano located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the East African Rift System.
- On the 22nd May 2021, it began to erupt; this followed a deadly eruption in 2002, which reached the city of Goma.
- When the eruption happened, lava poured down the sides of the volcano.
- At least 450 000 people were displaced or evacuated due to the lava flows.
Keywords
Constructive plate boundary - where two tectonic plates separate
Economic impacts - consequences that relate to the way money is made, lost or spent
Social impacts - consequences that relate to people’s quality of life, e.g. healthcare
Infrastructure - all the basic systems in a country, such as transport and power supply
Common misconception
There are no plate boundaries in Africa.
Mount Nyiragongo is on a constructive plate boundary known as the East African Rift System, where the African plate is splitting into the Nubian and Somali plates.
Teacher tip
It is worth researching the current state of the volcano to set the 2021 eruption in context, or asking students to find any updates for homework.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are tectonic plates?
Q2.What happens at a plate boundary?
Q3.What is a volcano?
Q4.What is magma?
Q5.Molten rock that flows out of a volcano is called .
Q6.What type of plate boundary is most likely to have volcanoes?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is Mount Nyiragongo?
Q2.Which type of plate boundary is linked to the formation of Mount Nyiragongo?
Q3.What is a social impact of the Mount Nyiragongo eruption?
Q4.Which of the following is true about tectonic activity in Africa?
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Tectonic hazards: Why is Earth restless? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.