Volcanoes & Tsunamis
Volcanoes
Learning Targets
Students will compare and contrast the locations of volcanoes in relation to the location of earthquakes.
Success Criteria
I can describe the relationship between the locations of volcanoes and earthquakes.
Where are the Volcanoes of the World?
Visit this site to find out where the volcanoes of the world are.
Go back to your Earthquake map and place red triangles on the map to indicate the positions of (at least) ten of the world's volcanoes.
Add a key to your map.
Go back to your summary and add what you have learned about the relationship between Volcanoes and Earthquakes.
Back to Continental Drift...
Does your new knowledge about earthquakes and volcanoes add any support to Alfred Wegener's theory of Continental Drift? Explain!
The Lava Flow Challenge
Hawaiian Lava Flows
The Challenge
In the Lava Flow Challenge your group is tasked with the job of helping a town near an active volcano develop a system for determining if and when they should evacuate during a volcanic eruption.
Your job is to
design a repeatable procedure for reliably measuring the rate at which lava flows.
You will use a plastic plate, dish soap (to simulate lava), and a stop watch.
Before you begin designing your investigation, view the following videos that show slow and fast lava flows.
Slow Lava Flow
Fast Lava Flow
Day 1 & 2 - Volcano Research
You will begin by doing a little research about Volcanoes
Learning Targets
Students will research volcanoes to determine the impact they have had on humans.
Success Criteria
I have read the three articles about volcanoes.
I can cite 3-4 examples of volcanoes impacting the lives of humans.
I have constructed a written explanation of how better understanding volcanic eruptions could have a positive impact on people who live near active volcanoes.
With a Partner
Read the following articles about volcanoes with a partner. Your purpose for reading is to better understand the impacts of living near an active volcano. As you read, take notes that will help you form an explanation of how volcanoes impact people. Be sure to put the notes in your own words and not just copy directly from the text.
Volcano Facts
Krakatoa
Paricutin
Meet with another group
Meet up with another group and discuss the notes that you took.
Be prepared to...
defend your reasoning for including the notes that you found to be important.
ask questions for clarification.
agree/disagree.
modify your own notes.
On Your Own
Begin writing your explanation of how volcanoes impact people who live near them.
In your explanation be sure to include
important facts about volcanoes
observations from historic volcanic eruptions
how a better understanding of volcanoes and volcanic eruptions could have a positive impact on the lives of people who live near active volcanoes.
Peer Editing
Trade what you have written with a partner and proofread for errors. Discuss your writing and give guidance for improving. Return to the Success Criteria and check to see that you have met all parts.
Submit your explanation here:
Day 3 - Writing Procedures
Write a Simple Procedure
Choose a simple task and explain the steps required to complete that task. The steps you write are called procedures. Be as thorough as you can so there is no confusion.
Share your procedures.
Learning Targets
Students will design and conduct a procedure to measure the rate at which simulated lava flows
Success Criteria
I have created a set of procedures to measure the flow of simulated lava.
I have identified the criteria and constraints of the problem.
My procedures are complete, easy to follow, and repeatable.
Roles
Organizer, Materials Manager/Technician, Time Keeper, Checker, Reader
Identify Criteria and Constraints
When engineering the solution to a problem there are always goals and limitations that affect how we reach those goals. They are called criteria and constraints.
Criteria - things that must be satisfied in order to achieve a goal
Constraints - factors that limit how you will go about achieving your goal
Write the Procedures for Measuring Lava Flow
Work with your group to write a set of procedures for measuring a simulated lava flow.
In your procedures be sure to identify your criteria and constraints, all materials needed and specific steps needed to carry out the task. You will have 15 minutes to complete this task.
After you are done, trade with another group and complete their procedures.
Meet with the other group to discuss how things went.
Personal Reflection
Have you met the success criteria?
I have created a set of procedures to measure the flow of simulated lava.
I have identified the criteria and constraints of the problem.
My procedures are complete, easy to follow, and repeatable.
If given the chance to redo this assignment what would you change about your procedures?
Volcanoes in Arizona
The follow album is a sample of volcano impacts in Northern Arizona, USA.
Hot Spot Volcanoes
MS-ESS2-1. - Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth's materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
Learning Target
Develop a model of how hotspot volcanoes help to describe the cycling of Earth's materials.
Success Criteria
I can make a prediction about the features of hotspot volcanoes.
I can demonstrate proper lab procedures including note taking and safety.
I can make the connection between the existence of hotspot volcanoes and the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
What is a Hotspot Volcano?
With your team discuss the following:
Based on the name, what do you think a hotspot volcano is?
How do you think hotspot volcanoes form?
Volcanoes are land builders. What kind of formations do they create?
Hotspot Lab
Introduction
Sometimes volcanoes appear in the middle of a plate (somewhere not on the plate boundary—not necessarily in the center of the plate). Today you will explore how and why this happens on Earth.
Materials
150mL beaker with red wax melted in bottom
1cm of sand
water
heat-resistant glove
hot plate
safety goggles
Procedures
One member of your group should get a beaker with wax, sand, and water already set up.
Place the beaker on the hotplate. (do not turn it on yet!)
Draw a simple diagram, labeling the parts of your setup. Label this diagram as BEFORE.
Ask your teacher to check your setup. Once your setup is approved, your teacher will instruct you to turn on your hotplate.
At this point, you will be observing your beaker for up to 10 minutes. Do not touch any part of the setup. It will burn you! You must wear safety goggles.
Record your observations in your science notebook. Draw a series of diagrams once you notice any changes in the beaker. Label this diagram DURING.
Once the materials in your beaker have stopped moving, turn off the hotplate. Your materials are still hot. Do not touch the setup.
Create a new diagram. Label this diagram AFTER.
Back to the Team...
Discuss the following with your team:
What does the wax represent in your model?
What kind of feature(s) did you create in this model?
What is the connection between the existence of hotspot volcanoes and the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
Hotspot Volcano Chains
Hotspots form chains of volcanoes in the middle of tectonic plates. Use the following activity to demonstrate how these chains can occur.
Procedure
Working in pairs, have one partner hold a pencil point up on the desk. The other should hold the paper flat a couple of inches over the point.
Move the paper slowly sideways. As it moves, bring the pencil point up until it pokes through the paper, and then bring it down again. Repeat this process several times as the paper continues to move.
Back to the Team...
Discuss the following with your team:
How does this activity show a connection between the existence of hotspot volcanoes and the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
Reading
A Hotspot Beneath the United States
Read page 76-78 in the How is the Earth Changing text.
Stop and answer the questions throughout the text with your team.
Tsunamis
MS-ESS3-2 Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
MS-ETS1-1 - Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Killer Wave
On March 11, 2011 an earthquake that registered 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Northern Japan. It generated a tsunami that killed tens of thousands of people and also started a nuclear disaster that is still impacting the region to this day.
What do you know about Tsunamis?
Brainstorm a list of 3-5 things you know about tsunamis and share with your class
With your team...
How would you protect a coastal city from a tsunami?
