KATE

January 1, 2009

Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Our Planet

Core Connections

By:  Gina Crider, Calloway County Schools

On December 26, 2004 the world was captivated by images of a deadly tsunami in Indonesia. Students throughout our state returned from holiday break bursting with questions and misconceptions of what caused this tragedy. As students were faced with the effects on human lives, an interest in Earth science was sparked. Though tragic, this historic event was a prime teaching moment for teachers.

Textbooks don't always help students make those natural connections. Our planet is an ever-changing sphere. The materials found within its layers supply us with valuable resources that are used in everyday life. Plates constantly shift to form new features on the landscape, enrich soil, and sometimes unfortunately, to destroy existing land and inhabitants. Before we can teach students how the Earth's crust shifts to cause earthquakes and volcanoes, it's important to give them a basic understanding of the layers and materials that make up our planet. This helps them comprehend how the top layer "floats" above the mantle, and it also helps them understand where our resources, such as metals, originate.

 

I Feel the Earth Move...
What causes earthquakes? Could we have an earthquake here in our region, and what should we do if that happens? These are just a few of the questions that students want to investigate. This is an opportune time to have earthquake safety drills with your classroom. Follow the link below for lesson plans that include multimedia features, including photos of active faults, damage from earthquakes, and labeled diagrams that reinforce vocabulary from the unit.

Ring of Fire
Volcanoes can cause both devastation and growth. It's no wonder that building volcanoes are popular science projects; children are fascinated by fiery lava flows. Still, it can be difficult for them to master the vocabulary terms associated with the subject. For example, what's the difference between lava and magma, or between a vent and a conduit? Connecting concepts between science units can also be a challenge. This is a great time to review or preview the rock cycle and discuss the types of rocks that can be found in areas with volcanic activity.

The 2004 tsunami is just one example of the interaction between Earth and its residents. Technology enables teachers to quickly link content to current events. This unit provides some reliable education websites that help connect textbook chapters over earthquakes and volcanoes to more interesting and timely information for students. The culminating activity allows students to further research topics of their choosing. They may choose to write a feature article about a famous event, like the Indonesian tsunami, or to design a brochure for earthquake preparedness.

Related Links

• Earthquakes for Kids - Sponsored by the United States Government, this site has information, puzzles, games and earthquake history for kids.
• Volcanoes - This website created by FEMA includes facts, a volcano watch, information and games.  Students can use the site for research and to test their knowledge.
• On the Move.......Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics

Related Lesson Plans, Activities, and Classroom Resources

• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes and Volcanoes
• Earthquakes