Volcanoes appear as figures in the oral and written traditions of many religions and cultures because of how powerful they can be. But they’re cast differently depending on the culture and likely how explosive or destructive the volcano was. In some cases, the gods, goddesses and other characters associated with volcanoes are symbols of creation and fertility. These types of stories often are found in places where volcanoes created new land, or volcanic soil led to large harvests. In other cases, the gods and goddesses are vengeful and punishing. 

In this guided lesson, students explore how civilizations across the world incorporated volcanic activity into their culture or religion using National Geographic MapMaker. Students will use data on volcanoes, tectonic plates, and points on legends, traditions and folktales to learn more about how these explosive landforms shape different cultures. By clicking the links above, educators will find a student activity with a short article, MapMaker and activity steps sorted onto different tabs. The second link takes teachers to the teacher’s guide with helpful suggestions, guiding questions and relevant national standards.