Thirteen Ed Online - Earth In Flux


	Earth In Flux

Procedures for Teachers is divided into two sections:
Prep -- Preparing for the Lesson.
Steps -- Conducting the Lesson.

Read through the entire lesson. Plan to execute the project according to your time and technological availability. For example, if you have a limited number of classroom computers and your students go to the computer lab, engage the lab teacher in the project. Additionally, you may want to assign Web research for homework when possible.

Materials:

Reference Materials/Library Resources (print, Internet, CD-ROMs, etc.)

Computer Resources:
You will need at least one computer with Internet access to complete this lesson. While many configurations will work, we recommend:

-- Modem: 28.8 Kbps or faster.
-- Browser: Netscape Navigator 3.0 or above or Internet Explorer 3.0 or above.
-- Macintosh computer: System 7.0 or above and at least 16 MB of RAM.
-- IBM-compatible computer: 386 or higher processor with at least 16 MB of RAM, running Windows 3.1. Or, a 486/66 or Pentium with at least 16 MB of RAM, running Windows 95.

For more information, visit What You Need to Get Connected in wNetSchool's Internet Primer.

Additional Software:
PowerPoint is used as an example in this lesson. You could also use any software application that has a slide show feature (e.g., ClarisWorks or KidPix).

Bookmarks:
The following sites should be bookmarked:

SAVAGE EARTH Online
http://www.thirteen.org/savageearth/index.html

This site is wNetStation's Web companion piece to the PBS series SAVAGE EARTH.

EarthForce
http://sln.fi.edu/earth/crust.html

This site gives a great explanation of plate tectonics as well as links to earthquake sites.

Discovery Channel Online-Earth Alert
http://www.discovery.com/news/earthalert/earthalert.html

Track the volcanoes, earthquakes, and floods of our evolving planet.

Earthquakes
http://www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/earthquakes.html

This site provides a basic background on earthquakes and links to real-time seismic events, and dispels many earthquake myths.

Welcome to Tsunami!
http://www.geophys.washington.edu/tsunami/welcome.html

This site bills itself as "an interactive, online, tsunami-information resource."

Tsunami Program
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami

The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration's Web site offers field observations, tsunami forecasts, and loads of research.


There are three lessons in Earth in Flux: Lesson I: Introducing the project (1 class period). Lesson II: Learning to create a PowerPoint presentation (1-2 class periods). Lesson III: Producing the presentation (4 class periods).
Lesson I: Introducing the project (1 class period).
	Introduce the project and familiarize students with the natural disasters described in the SAVAGE EARTH programs (earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis). Consider taking your class on a virtual field trip to the VRML model of Mt. St. Helens (http://www.usgs.gov/education/learnweb/volcano/index.html), or download an MPEG movie about a tsunami (http://www.usc.edu/dept/tsunamis/movies/). If you explore a virtual disaster as a whole class, make sure your computer monitor is hooked up to a large monitor that is suitable for whole class viewing.
	Tell the students they will study plate tectonics and its relationship to volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, and present their findings to the class via a PowerPoint presentation. Their presentation should incorporate images, relevant graphs, text, video clips, and sound, if appropriate. As a group, brainstorm any prior knowledge the class has about volcanoes, earthquakes, or tsunamis. List these on a chart in front of the class.
	Divide students into collaborative groups of three to five. Charge each group with devising a set of a minimum of 5 questions they will investigate for the project. Have students share their questions with the class.
	Students will use online and print resources to research their pre-identified research questions. Homework: Students should continue researching their topic using books, CD-ROMs, magazines, encyclopedias, and wNetStation's SAVAGE EARTH Online Web companion piece (http://www.thirteen.org/savageearth/index.html).
Lesson II: Learning to create a PowerPoint presentation (1-2 class periods).
	Give your students a tutorial in using the presentation software you have chosen. If you are using PowerPoint, refer to the PowerPoint Overview located in Organizers for Students.
Lesson III: Producing the project (3 class periods).
	Before students begin creating their PowerPoint presentation, they must complete a Storyboard, located in Organizers for Students, and have it checked by the teacher.

Submit a Comment: We invite your comments and suggestions based on how you used the lesson in your classroom.

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