View Bozeman science video Cause and Effect.

• What forces shape the Earth? What effect do those changes have?

• How do earth processes affect land use?

  1. Where are buildings located in the landscape?

  2. What happens if the landscape changes?

First watch one or two of these videos:

• Why does the Earth have layers?

• Layers of the Earth? What are they?

• Layers of the Earth

Next, read this SEPUP article about Earth’s interior.

Now, let’s make it local! Mt St Helens is an active volcano about 100 miles from Portland, in Washington. On May 18, 1980 Mt St Helens erupted. This year is the 40th anniversary of the eruption.

Choose two of the volcano scientist videos to watch. What questions would you ask the scientists?

Learn about how volcanic eruptions are predicted in this activity set. You can do as much as you like, but be sure to do the Mt St Helens tab.

Watch the first two videos about Mt St Helens on this page. As you watch, keep a list of cause and effect and of the questions you have or questions you notice the scientists in the video asking. Pause the video as you need to to record your thinking.

What did you learn this week about forces that shape the earth?

Use this graphic organizer to share one example of cause and effect for something that you learned this week.

Ideas for optional independent investigations:

• Explore these 30 Cool Facts About Mt St Helens. This poster was created for the 30th anniversary of Mt St Helens eruption.

• Read more about volcanoes from USGS.

• Mt St Helens webcam operated by USFS

Materials: paper (Newspaper, junk mail, index cards, etc.) 2 feet of tape.

Challenge: Using only the materials from the list above, create a freestanding structure that is at least one foot high and can hold a small stuffed animal or toy.

Think about it:

• What are some strong shapes that you can see in bridges or towers?

• Could you combine the tape and paper to make a stronger material?

• What’s the most important use of your tape?

• After you test: If you did this again, what would you do differently?

Use the Engineering Design Process to build your structure:

• Define: What is it that needs to be accomplished?

• Brainstorm: What are your ideas for meeting the criteria of the challenge?

• Plan: Draw and discuss your design.

• Make It! and then Test It!

Improve: Make it better by repeating the Engineering Design Process again!