a volcano erupting
Illustration by Gary Hanna
Time Machine,

Day of Disaster

Nearly 2,000 years ago, a volcano destroyed the city of Pompeii. Imagine you are there. 

By Lauren Tarshis
From the September 2022 Issue
Lexiles: 500L-600L
Featured Skill: Knowledge Building,

Presentation View
See Student View

Lexile® measure

  • On Level
  • Easier Level
Download and Print
Easier Level
Think and Read: Knowledge Building

As you read, think about what happened in Pompeii in 79 A.D.

Boom! A powerful explosion shakes the ground. People fall. Birds scatter. 

In the distance, you see a giant mountain. A tower of thick, gray smoke is shooting out from the top of it. The year is 79 a.d. And you’re witnessing one of the worst disasters in the history of the world.

Boom! A big explosion makes the ground shake. People fall. Birds fly away. 

You see a giant mountain in the distance. Thick, gray smoke is coming out of the top of it. The year is 79 A.D. And you’re watching one of the worst disasters in history.

Shutterstock.com

Packed With People

Packed With People

Jim Mcmahon/Mapman ® 

The Roman Empire  The Roman Empire (above, in red) stretched across parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Pompeii is located in what is now the country of Italy.

Nearly 2,000 years ago, the world is a different place. America isn’t a country yet. Much of the world is controlled by a powerful kingdom called the Roman Empire. A city called Pompeii (pahm-PAY) is in the middle of this kingdom.

Pompeii’s main street is packed with people. Kids run down the road in leather sandals. Women wear robes, and men wear long shirts called tunics. 

There are no computers, cars, or electric lights. But you’re surprised by how modern the city seems. It has a library, shops, and restaurants. You stop at a market for a bite to eat. How about roasted mice with nuts and rose petals? 

As you exit the market, you look up. That’s when you see it—the giant mountain that stands behind the city. You don’t give it much thought. No one else does either. It’s just a mountain, standing silent and still.

Except it’s not just a mountain. It’s a dangerous volcano called Mount Vesuvius (veh-SOO-vee-us). The volcano has been asleep for hundreds of years. But now, it’s waking up. 

It’s nearly 2,000 years ago, and the world is different. America isn’t a country yet. There’s a big kingdom called the Roman Empire. It rules most of the world. There’s a city called Pompeii (pahm-PAY) in the middle of this kingdom.

Pompeii’s main street is packed with people. Kids run down the road in leather sandals. Women wear robes. Men wear long shirts called tunics. 

There are no computers or cars. There are no electric lights. But the city seems modern. It has a library, shops, and restaurants. You stop to buy food. The roasted mice look tasty! 

You leave the shop. Then you look up and see it. A giant mountain stands behind the city. But you don’t give it much thought. No one else does either. It’s just a mountain. It seems silent and still.

Except it’s not just a mountain. It’s a volcano called Mount Vesuvius (veh-SOO-vee-us). The volcano has been asleep for hundreds of years. But now, it’s waking up.

Pieces of the Past

Pieces of the Past

De Agostini Picture Library/De Agostini Via Getty Images

The person baking this bread must have left in a hurry. The loaf was found in an oven!

The person baking this bread must have left in a hurry. The loaf was found in an oven!

 Azoor Photo/Alamy Stock Photo

This drinking cup was found in what’s left of a home. 

This drinking cup was found in what’s left of a home. 

Hot, Black Snow

Hot, Black Snow

For months, melted rock has been rising in the center of Mount Vesuvius. Pressure is building. And today, the volcano finally explodes. The sky turns black as you hear the loud boom!

The explosion blasts the top of the mountain into the sky. A mixture of ash and rock falls down on Pompeii like hot, black snow. Melted rock called lava rushes down the volcano. It’s heading toward you. Run! You dash past the gates of the city and keep running. You escape Pompeii—just in time. 

For months, melted rock has been rising in the center of the volcano. Pressure is building up. And today, the volcano finally explodes. You hear the loud boom! The sky turns black. 

The explosion is powerful. It blasts off the top of the mountain. Ash and rock fall down on Pompeii. It’s like hot, black snow. Melted rock called lava pours down the volcano. It’s heading toward you. Run! You run through the gates of the city. You escape just in time.

Nina B/Shutterstock.com 

A Lost City These are the ruins of Pompeii. Ruins are the remaining pieces of something that was destroyed. Mount Vesuvius stands behind what’s left of the city.

The Lost City

The Lost City

Thousands of people survived that day of disaster. But not everyone was as lucky. The city was buried under more than 12 feet of ash and rock. 

Over the years, experts have been digging up pieces of the lost city. If you visit Pompeii today, you can see dazzling treasures and jewels. You can explore empty homes and restaurants. And you can see Mount Vesuvius, still standing in the background.

You may not be able to travel back in time to that day when Mount Vesuvius exploded. (And you probably wouldn’t want to!) But parts of Pompeii are still there, frozen in time. Would you like to see them?

Thousands of people escaped. But not everyone was that lucky. The city was buried under ash and rock. It was a day of disaster. 

Years passed. Experts dug up pieces of Pompeii. Today, you can visit the lost city. You can see amazing objects and jewels. You can walk through empty homes and restaurants. And you can see Mount Vesuvius. It’s still standing behind the city.

You can’t really go back to the day Mount Vesuvius exploded. (And you probably wouldn’t want to!) But parts of Pompeii are still there. They are frozen in time. Would you like to see them? 

THINK AND WRITE

Imagine you’re talking to a friend who has never heard of Pompeii. Using details from the article, explain what happened in 79 A.D.

THINK AND WRITE

Imagine you’re talking to a friend who has never heard of Pompeii. Using details from the article, explain what happened in 79 A.D.

video (1)
Audio ()
Audio ()
Activities (5)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
video (1)
Audio ()
Audio ()
Activities (5) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Can't Miss Teaching Extras

Another Time Machine feature will take your students directly into the heart of a volcano; “Journey Inside a Volcano” from our February 2022 issue puts students in the boots of a volcanologist, a scientist who studies volcanoes.

The Big Read from October/November 2017 offers a more recent account of a volcano’s destructive powers. In “Mountain of Fire,” students will learn about 10-year-old Eric Smith’s experiences during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Volcanoes create as well as destroy. In fact, the islands of Hawaii exist because of them. Students can learn more by reading the fascinating February 2022 nonfiction story “Beauty and Disaster” about the 2018 eruption of Mount Kilauea.

Text-to-Speech