Topic 6: Volcanoes

• students determine the relationship between volcanoes and plate marjins.
• students understand the anatomy and variety of volcanoes.
• students explore ways to model an active cone volcano.

Mt. St. Helens, Washington State, USA

New words:

Volcano: an opening in the Earth's crust that can release materials such as lava, smoke and ash. Volcanos can be either active (releasing materials) or dormant (not releasing materials).

Vent: the opening in the earth's crust when a volcano erupts.

Ring of Fire:

Resources:

• About volcanoes
• Current eruptions
• 10 eruptions that shook the world
• United States Geological Survey examples
• Building volcanoes
• Recent Active volcanoes
• Volcanoes of Canada
• Canadian information about volcanoes
  

Volcano Project

1. Plot the volcanoes AND earthquakes on the map provided, using the data from page 409. Use 2 colours of crayons for volcano dots and earthquake dots. Make sure you include a legend.
2. On the back of the map page, answer the following:
   1. Are most of the volcanoes located near earthquakes, or are their locations unrelated?
   2. What conclusions can you reach about the volcano and earthquake locations around the world, based on your observations.
   3. Check with Internet sites for the Canadian Geological Survey and United States Geological Survey maps of volcanoes. How do they compare with our map and your observations?
3. Using Internet or Library resources, find an example of a recent active volcano. Use this example to write a report that demonstrates your understanding of why volcanoes are an important part of the earth, past and present.
   1. Using a recent example (within the past 10 years), describe what an active volcano looks like, both from the inside and the outside. Use diagrams to help with your description and include the location of the volcano. Your description should also include what type of products are erupting from the volcano.
   2. Describe and illustrate why the volcano is occurring.
   3. What environmental and human impact does the volcano have?
4. During the Spring Break, write up your report. Include:
   • Title page with title and name(s)
   • illustrated report on an active volcano, including all the parts of #3.
   • references.
   • Bonus marks will also be given for designing and making a model of an active volcano.
   • Your model and your report are due on the first day back after Spring Break (April 2, 2002). Late marks will apply to those who do not bring report and optional model on the due date.