Where's the volcanic threat?

Mark Abolins

Middle Tennessee State University

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection. (view details)

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Scientific Accuracy
Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
Pedagogic Effectiveness
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Initial Publication Date: December 12, 2013 | Reviewed: July 21, 2015 (see revision history: 2 events)

Volcanology, Volcanism | High School (9-12), College Lower (13-14)

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Context

Audience:

This activity will be used in a Geology for Teachers course to be taught in Costa Rica during Summer 2007. High school students and undergraduate non-science majors could also use the activity.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered:

This activity requires little prior knowledge. Students will likely appreciate a basic introduction to the geography of Central America, volcanoes and volcanic rocks.

How the activity is situated in the course:

This activity is part of a sequence of exercises in a Geology for Teachers course to be taught in Costa Rica during Summer 2007.

National or State Education Standards addressed by this activity?:

CONTENT STANDARD F (Grades 9-12) - Science in Personal and Social Perspectives - Natural hazards

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity:

Students will understand the relationship between the silica content of magma and the potential for explosive volcanic activity.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity:

Students analyze silica data.

Other skills goals for this activity:

Description of the activity/assignment

Students investigate Costa Rican volcanic hazards using (a) the amount of silica in volcanic rocks, (b) a highly-simplified geologic map and (c) a satellite image of Costa Rican night time illumination (i.e., human settlements). The activity is intentionally very simple and, consequently, should not require much introduction. However, the instructor can use mapsandnotes.ppt to provide a simple overview of Central American geography and Costa Rican tectonics. By providing brief answers to eight questions, the student demonstrates an understanding of the connection between the silica content of magma and the potential for explosive volcanic activity.