SAVAGE EARTH
Over the coming months, wNetSchool will present Internet-based lessons and activities based on the
SAVAGE EARTH TV series on PBS.
Check out the SAVAGE EARTH Web companion
piece on wNetStation.
Link to Original Lesson Plans, Selected Sites and Software Samples developed for the
PBS Series SAVAGE EARTH.
Original Lesson Plans
- Keep on Standing!!, Grades 5-8
This lesson will allow students to conduct research on the Internet about earthquakes and
buildings that have successfully withstood them. They will suggest designs for future buildings. They will
then create models of their suggested designs. These models will be tested in an earthquake simulator.
Students will then redesign the models so that they can successfully withstand the simulation. This lesson is
based on SAVAGE EARTH.
- The Dynamic Earth, Grades
K-8
Students are introduced to earthquakes and volcanoes. Students learn about the effects of
earthquakes from eyewitnesses to the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. They learn about how
earthquake intensity is measured, where earthquakes occur (by studying real-time data), and what global
patterns exist. They will then compare earthquake patterns to volcano patterns.
- Volcanoes, Grades 5-8
This lesson will acquaint students with the characteristics and effects of volcanic activity. It
will also explore how plate tectonics relates to volcanoes. Experiments on the volume of ejecta produced by
a volcano and the viscosity of lava will be conducted. Students will use the Internet to research information
on volcanoes and talk to experts. This lesson is based on SAVAGE EARTH.
Selected Sites
In addition to the SAVAGE EARTH site, we
recommend:
- Virtual Earthquake
With a bit of
background information and a playful command of "Let's have an earthquake!", you are ready to begin
collecting seismological data on an earthquake of your choice.
Software Projects
- Earth in Flux
Using the
Internet, CD-ROMs, print resources, and the PBS series SAVAGE EARTH, students will explore the
phenomena of plate tectonics, understand the relationship between plate tectonics and natural disasters, and
demonstrate their understanding via a PowerPoint presentation.
- Savage Earth
Using the
Internet, CD-ROMs, print resources, and the PBS series SAVAGE EARTH, students will explore the
phenomena of plate tectonics, understand the relationship between plate tectonics and natural disasters, and
demonstrate their understanding via a PowerPoint presentation.
