Students will explore the basic elements and energy that are the driving forces of our universe, from the formation of atoms and matter to Earth’s earliest evolution. Earth is dynamic; it is constantly changing. Limitless energy lies beneath Earth’s volcanoes. Can volcanoes be a resource? Can we harness their energy and fertile soil? Is volcanic activity the Earth’s spontaneous hiccups, or is there a pattern to be observed and predicted? What are the types of volcanoes; what determines their location; and which volcanoes pose the greatest threat to humanity?
| Author | Grade Level | Subjects/Course | Duration |
| Shannon Hardy | 6th | Social Studies, Science | 8 days 75-minute lessons |
- Standards
- Key Knowledge and Understanding
- Other Skills to Be Taught and Assessed
- Driving Question
- Products
- Making Products Public
- Launch Activity or Event
- Resources & Materials
- Assessments
- Reflection
- Timeline
- Planning Guide
Standards
Social Studies – Standards
SS: Construct maps, charts and graphs to explain data about geographic phenomena.
Ring of Fire – Report
3 Part Rubric – Single Point
- Research/Hypothesis
- Data Collection & Map
- Results, Conclusion, and Questions
SS: Understand how the physical environment and human interaction affected the economic activities of various civilizations, societies and regions.
Volcano Assessment
- Research Volcano Economic Asset
- Research Volcano Threat to Humans
- Collaboration
Key Knowledge and Understanding
Social Studies:
- Construct maps, charts and graphs to explain data about geographic phenomena.
- Understand how the physical environment and human interaction affected the economic activities of various civilizations, societies and regions.
Other Skills to Be Taught and Assessed
Skills
- Develop a Hypothesis
- Data Collection
- Identify Longitude and Latitude on a Map
- Write Results and Conclusion
- Develop research questions to solve a problem.
- Research
- Collaboration
- Identify images that support findings.
- Public Speaking
Driving Question
How dangerous are specific volcanoes to humans, the local and global ecology?
Products
Individual Components
Ring of Fire Map/Report: Students will work independently to explore the relationship between earthquakes and volcanoes. They will predict (hypothesis) which country will have the earthquake with the greatest magnitude in the next 3 days. Students collect data (USGS) on the 5 earthquakes with the greatest magnitude, map using longitude and latitude, document the countries with the most activity in their results, and draw a conclusion if their hypothesis was accurate.
Specific content and skills to be assessed: Construct Map
- Develop a Hypothesis
- Data Collection
- Identify Longitude and Latitude on a Map
- Write Results and Conclusion
Team Components
TedTalk: Students will work in small groups and select the volcano they believe is the greatest threat to humanity. They then have to build a case based on the type of volcano, historic eruptions, current activity, economic impact, population of humans threatened, ecology threats, and possible global impact. Students present findings and threat level in a TedTalk.
Specific content and skills to be assessed: Understand Physical Environment & Human Interaction
- Develop research questions to solve a problem
- Research
- Collaboration
- Identify images that support findings.
- Public Speaking
Making Products Public
Schedule the TedTalk so guests can attend.
Launch Activity or Event
Lithosphere is Dynamic
Speaker Amy Pittman, Geologist NC Department of Natural Resources
Earth is constantly changing, even in NC where volcanoes are extinct and earthquakes are rare we still suffer from landslides.
Resources & Materials
- Computers
- Internet
- Google Slides
- Maps
- Rulers
- Community members (local geologist)
Assessments
- Self Assessment: Public Speaking
- Peer Assessment: Volcano Research & Collaboration
- Teacher Assessment: Ring of Fire Report (Map, Writing) & Volcano Threat Assessment (Research & Public Speaking)
- TedTalk: Guests – Rubric for feedback to students.
Reflection
Student Reflection
Need to improve reflection points during the project
Teacher Reflection
Identify a volcanologist speaker or other expert
Timeline
| Day 1 | Geologist: Landslides |
| Day 2 | Content: (35 min) Why does Earth have Layers Pt 1 Crust & Mantle Mapping: (35 min) Ring of Fire – Magnitude/USGS intro/Hypothesis |
| Day 3 | Content: (35 min) Why does Earth have Layers Pt 2 Inner & Outer Core Mapping: (35 min) Ring of Fire – Longitude & Latitude / Data Collection |
| Day 4 | Content: (35 min) Why does Earth have Layers – Vocab Sort/Exit Ticket Mapping: (35 min) Ring of Fire Report Writing Results/Conclusion |
| Day 5 | Volcano Formation (35 minutes) What causes volcanoes Volcano Threat Assessment Project (35 minutes) Form groups, initial research, volcano selection |
| Day 6 | Volcano Formation (35 minutes) Digital Notes/Exit Ticket Volcano Threat Assessment Project (35 minutes) 12 Year Old, Italian, Josh Brown’s TED TALK on Mt. Vesuvius, create rubric for speaking qualities, set up Google slideshow, assign speaking parts. |
| Day 7 | Volcano Test (45 minutes) Volcano Threat Assessment Project (25 minutes) Rehearse |
| Day 8 | Volcano Threat Assessment Ted Talk Peer Assessments – Collaboration Self Assessment – Public Speaking |
Planning Guide
View the detailed planning guide with links to resources and templates here.