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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchiveGrade Level: 8-12
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Volcanic Activity
It's
been a busy time for active volcanoes this last week of March, 2000. Early
Monday, a nighttime eruption of Italy's Mt. Etna lit the night with the
red glow of lava, but did not threaten lives or cause damage. Many residents
of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, weren't so lucky. More
than 15,000 were forced from their homes when Mt. Usu erupted Friday,
spewing gas and debris two miles into the sky. More eruptions Saturday
opened up several new craters, but the volcano show little sign of blowing
its top and spraying lava, hot gas, and stones into the towns below.
In this week's online lesson you will learn more about Mt. Etna, Mt. Usu, and other active volcanoes around the world.
Anatomy of a Volcano
Begin
your lesson by reading news reports of the eruptions. Start with CNN
and the report on the Mt.
Etna eruption. As you read this short report, look for the Video
links to watch a video clip of the lava fountain.
Next, try the MSNBC News site for reports on the eruption of Mt. Usu. When was Usu last significantly active? How has the volcanic activity there affected the lives of those living around the mountain?
As you read, look for the link to the MSNBC Interactive Anatomy of a Volcano. Study the layers of the earth, and then click Next to learn about movement of the tectonic plates and how this movement—specifically at the subduction zone—is related to volcanic activity. Roll your mouse over the label Subduction zone on the third slide. What do Japan and Italy have in common? Where else on the earth are subduction zones found?
Volcano Exhibit
Your
online lesson continues with the Volcano
exhibit at Learner.org. Click Enter after the short opening and read
about the need for accurate volcanic predictions. From here you can
click the section you want to visit from the links at the bottom of
the page.
Start with Melting Rocks, which features a simulation that lets you try your hand at melting rocks. You can also watch a video clip about viscosity. At Dynamic Earth you learn more about the movement of the earth's plates and read case studies of different kinds of volcanoes. Finish with Judging Hazards to learn more about what makes a volcano dangerous (not just lava), and Forecasting to find out how scientists try to predict an eruption.
VolcanoWorld
You
can learn a lot about volcanoes at the VolcanoWorld
Web site, hosted by the University of North Dakota. There's a lot here,
but start with the Volcanoes
link. Go to the Earth's
Volcanoes link and look at some cool pictures of volcanic activity,
and then go back to the movie
clips (if you are browsing with a multimedia computer) and watch
a few shows. After a few minutes of exploring, go back and click the Current
Eruptions link, where you'll find a list of the most recent volcanic
activity in the world. You'll be amazed by the frequency of volcanic activity
in the world. From the volcanoes listed, what percentage are along the
perimeter of the Pacific plate, also known as the ring of fire? Click
some of these links to see photos taken during the active periods.
Younger learners should visit the VolcanoWorld Kids' Door for a variety of fun activities. Read cool volcano legends from cultures around the world, take a virtual field trip, and try the VolcanoWorld Kids' Quiz (the answers are all on the site).
Teachers, visit the Teaching and Learning page for volcano lessons, activities, and models.
© Copyright 2002
Learners Online, Inc.