Laurisa White Reyes Nine years ago, when my husband and I were engaged to be married, we flew to Guatemala to visit his family. As we approached our destination, I looked out the window and saw half a dozen volcanoes spread out over the lush green landscape. But the most breath taking moment of our trip occurred a few weeks later while driving outside Guatemala City. It was an image so magnificent that it has remained vivid in my memory all these years. Mankind has had a fascination with volcanoes since the beginning of time.
History records their awe-inspiring beauty as well as the power of their destructive forces.
There are literally thousands of volcanoes throughout the world. When it comes to teaching children about volcanoes, resources are endless. Books and videos by the dozens are available at every bookstore and library. For younger children, reading picture books and discussing basic facts about volcanoes can be enough to spawn a sincere interest. For older children, it can easily lead to an exploration of an entire branch of scientific study.