Volcano Critical Thinking Answer Key

This worksheet challenges students to apply their Earth and planetary science knowledge by answering short, open-ended questions about volcanic activity. Learners explore why some planets are volcanically active while others are not, compare volcanic processes on Mars and Venus, and analyze the role of internal heat in shaping planetary surfaces. The questions require complete-sentence responses, promoting scientific writing fluency and deeper reasoning. Students must use inferencing, background knowledge, and critical thinking to explain geological phenomena across Earth, moons, and other planets. A reflection question further encourages them to consider how studying volcanoes beyond Earth helps scientists better understand our own planet.

Curriculum Matched Skills

Science – Comparative Planetary Volcanology

Science – Earth and Space Systems

Science – Scientific Explanation and Critical Thinking

Science – Understanding Internal Heat and Geological Activity

This worksheet is part of our Volcanoes Worksheets Collection.