A WebQuest by Mr. L

Grade: 4

 

Introduction

 

Congratulations!  After weeks of studying volcanoes you have recently succeeded in becoming the world’s youngest volcanologist, and not a moment to soon!  The mayor of Sandwich Town is in desperate need of your help.  Sandwich town sits right in between the base two active volcanoes!  When you asked him why anyone would build a town so close to two volcanoes, he said “The volcanoes bring the town a huge fortune from tourists who come to see them.  There hasn’t been an eruption in years, so we figured they weren’t active anymore.”  Of course you, the world’s youngest volcanologist know better than that, but before you could say anything, the mayor said “Please, we need your help.  We don’t want to have to move our town, but we think there might be some signs that the volcanoes might be acting up.  Can you help us?”  After careful consideration, you decide to help the mayor.  After all, your research could save the lives of many Sandwich Town citizens!

 

Your Challenge

 

You must help Sandwich Town.  Do research on the internet to find information on the warning signs that a volcano shows before it is going to erupt.  However, Sandwich Town needs more than that.  They also need you to find out what kind of damage they should expect if one or both of the volcanoes have a serious eruption.  Perhaps the most important part of your research is to give suggestions to the mayor for an evacuation plan of Sandwich Town, should there be signs of a serious eruption.  Write your findings in your science journal.  Again, Sandwich Town needs:

 

                   1)  A description of warning signs that help predict eruptions.                        Make sure to include any problems there might be when trying                      to predict eruptions. 

                  

                   2)  A description of the damage they should expect if a volcano                     erupts.

 

                   3)  Suggestions for an evacuation plan if  the  volcanoes are                           showing signs of eruption.   

 

Your Journey

 

To get more information, visit these sights:

 

Site:                      URL:

 

PBS                         http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vesuvius/planning.html

 

Learner                   http://www.learner.org/exhibits/volcanoes/judgehaz.html

 

Volcano World       http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/

 

USGS                      http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc/cover2.html

 

 

You can also find your own sites.  Try these words in a search engine:

 

Volcano, volcanoes, evacuation, eruption, damage

 

Questions or comments?  Go ahead and E-mail Shaun Langevin (also known as Mr. L) at slangevi@uvm.edu