Modeling and Measuring Volcanic Eruptions

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Introduction

National Middle School Science Standards

Earth Science, Physical Science

Key Terms

volcanology, explosive eruption, pyroclastic flow, density, entrainment, plume

Key Concepts

Types of volcanic eruption
Behavior of an explosive eruption
Differing densities of volcanic materials
Modeling pyroclastic flows
Technology used by volcanologists

Resource Types

Videos and Webcasts

How Volcanic Eruptions Send Materials Up and Out with Smithsonian Volcanologist Ben Andrews on Smithsonian Science How
Footage of the 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption Smithsonian Channel
Yellowstone Supervolcano Smithsonian Channel
What Are the Three Types of Rocks? YouTube, National Museum of Natural History Channel

Printable Lessons

Cones, Eruptions, and Pyroclasts Oregon State University middle school lessons
Using Models Effectively John Eichinger in NSTA WebNews Digest
Lava Layering: Making and Mapping a Volcano NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Living With a Volcano in Your Backyard—Mount Rainier USGS Educator’s Guide

Posters and Worksheets

Geologic Hazards at Volcanoes U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS)
30 Cool Facts about Mount St. Helens USGS

Onlnine Activities

Predict an Eruption U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) N.B.: This activity uses Flash; a text-only file is also available.

Science Literacy Resources

Middle School Level

Why Do Alaska Volcanoes Erupt So Often? Tween Tribune
Volcano Ash Cloud Covers 400 Miles Tween Tribune
Scientist Models Deadly Volcano Eruptions with Harmless Baby Powder National Geographic News

High School Level

Picture of the Week—An Erupting Volcano as Seen from Space Smithsonian SmartNews
Pyroclastic Flows Move Fast and Destroy Everything in Their Path US Geological Survey
Keep an Eye on Popocatépetl, the Volcano Erupting Just Outside Mexico City Smithsonian SmartNews
Volcanic Plumes Tower over Mount Etna NASA Earth Observatory

Gifted Reading Level

NASA Satellite Data Improving Volcanic Ash Forecasts for Aviation Safety NASA
Santiaguito Volcano's Clockwork Behavior Provides an Exceptional Laboratory Earth, The Science Behind the Headlines
Translational Volcanology Rachel Berkowitz, AAAS Science Magazine
NASA Flies Dragon Eye Unmanned Aircraft Into Volcanic Plume NASA TV

Subject Guides

Geosciences Subject Guide Smithsonian Libraries

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

The Modeling and Measuring Volcanic Eruptions teaching resources support students in meeting the following middle school NGSS Performance Expectations.

Earth Science

MS-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity

.MS-ESS3-1 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth's mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes.
MS-ESS3-2 Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.

Physical Science

MS-PS3 Energy

MS-PS3-1 Construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and to the speed of an object.
MS-PS3-5 Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.

Resource Type