Programme title: Awesome Forces video conference

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Document ID: 633420 Author: Scott Ogilvie

Programme title: Awesome Forces video conference

Years: 3–8

Theme

Big questions

Key competencies

The Earth is not static, but a very dynamic system. Changes can occur very slowly or extremely fast.

How do earthquakes and volcanoes occur? Why and how is Aotearoa New Zealand

affected by earthquakes and volcanoes? Where have earthquakes and volcanoes

occurred in New Zealand?

Thinking: Students seek information about earthquakes and volcanoes and consider why Aotearoa New Zealand is affected by these powerful forces of nature.

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English-medium curriculum

M

ā

ori-medium curriculum

Science

Planet Earth and Beyond – Interacting systems

• L1 and L2: Describe how natural features are changed and

resources affected by natural events and human actions. Planet Earth and Beyond – Earth systems

• L3 and L4: Appreciate/develop an understanding that water, air,

rocks and soil, and life forms make up our planet and recognise that these are also Earth’s resources.

Nature of Science – Communicating in science

• L1 and L2: Build their language and develop their understandings of

the many ways the natural world can be represented.

• L3 and L4: Begin to use a range of scientific symbols, conventions,

and vocabulary.

Social Sciences

• L1: Understand how places in New Zealand are significant for

individuals and groups.

• L2: Understand how places influence people and people influence

P

ū

taiao

Te Ao Tū_{roa – Papat}ūā_nuku

• T1–T2: Ka ako haere me pē_{hea te r}ū_{whenua me te puia e huri ai i} te ā_{hua o te takiw}ā_{, me ng}ā_pā_{nga ki te maunga, ki te awa hoki.}

• T4(i): Ka mā_{rama haere ki ng}āā_{huatanga nui o te mata o}

Papatūā_{nuku, ar}ā_{, te wai, te toka, te one, me ng}āā_{huatanga e taea} ai te ora i reira.

Tikanga

ā

_-Iwi

Te Wā_{hi me te Taiao}

• T1.1: Ka whakamā_{rama i ng}āā_{huatanga t}ū_{turu me ng}āā_huatanga ahurea o tē_{tahi w}ā_hi..

Te Ao Hurihuri

• T4.1: Ka tautohu i ngā_pū_{take me ng}ā_{otinga o ng}ā_tūā_{hua kua} waihanga i te oranga o te tangata.

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places.

• L3: Understand how people view and use places differently. • L4: Understand that events have causes and effects.

Learning intentions

• Describe the reasons we have earthquakes and volcanoes.

• Explain that some Earth processes happen very slowly (eg, plate tectonics) while others are very quick (eg, earthquakes and volcanoes).

Programme description

In this video conference, students explore the inner workings of our planet. They uncover the layers of the Earth and learn about the forces at work in its interior. Students piece together the puzzle of plate tectonics as they discover the causes of earthquakes and volcanoes.

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Possible pre-visit activities

Mind map

• As a class, mind map natural events that have occurred in New Zealand. You may have seen them in the news or heard about them from your

family. (Teachers: If necessary, narrow the focus to events that are seen as disasters.)

• Sort your ideas into weather-related events, events caused by people, and events that seem to be caused by something going on inside the

Earth.

Big questions

• Share some ‘big questions’ that you have about the Earth’s inner workings, earthquakes, volcanoes, or tsunamis. Display these in your

classroom, and use them to guide your inquiries.

Shaky planet

• In groups, research the ‘vital statistics’ of earthquakes and volcanoes that have occurred globally since you were born, eg, the Indian Ocean

tsunami, the Chilean earthquake and eruption, the Icelandic eruption, the Haitian earthquake, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the Christchurch earthquake. These statistics could include where the event was located, what it measured on the Richter scale, what countries it affected, what damage it caused, etc.

• Turn your findings into brief fact cards and mark them on a world map in the classroom.

Teachers: You can use the map and data to:

• elicit the idea that these events happen globally, not just in New Zealand

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• introduce the focus of the Te Papa education programme – understanding why these events happen.

New Zealand volcanoes

• Find out how many volcanoes New Zealand has and where they are.

• On a map of New Zealand, mark 5 active volcanoes and 5 extinct volcanoes.

• On a map of the world, mark 10 volcanoes outside New Zealand that have erupted in the last 25 years. • Monitor New Zealand’s active volcanoes online with GNS Science’s volcano cameras. bit.ly/PsGsNK

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Possible post-visit activities

Earthquake watch

• Choose two or three countries that experience earthquakes, and monitor their earthquakes over a week or month. Compare their frequency

with that of earthquakes in New Zealand. Record the locations and magnitudes on a world map. As an extension for numeracy, graph the results. Use your findings to decide which parts of the world experience the most earthquakes.

• Find out about the latest earthquakes in the world on the website of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww

For students working at Level 4 of the curriculum

Build a seismograph

Design an instrument that measure vibrations in the ground. Here are two examples to help you – or you can design your own.

• Basic seismograph – pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/seismometer.html • More technical seismograph – tryengineering.org/lessons/seismograph.pdf

3-D Earth

Create your own 3-D model of the Earth’s structure. Search for the following YouTube videos, which show one way to make a 3-D model.

youtube.com

• ‘Ben Holt – Mrs Kepner cutting ball for Model of Interior of Earth Project Part 1’ • ‘Ben Holt – Mrs Kepner & Model Earth Project Part 2’

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Research

Investigate natural forces at work around the planet. The BBC science website is an excellent starting point for images, information, and film clips on the Earth’s surface and interior, as well as historical tectonic and volcanic events. Explore in particular the ‘Surface & interior’ topic.

bbc.co.uk/science/earth

Build an erupting volcano

You can use many different chemical reactions to create an erupting volcano, depending how long you want the project to take.

• The most common method is to use vinegar, baking soda, and food colouring. Replace the vinegar with tomato sauce to make thicker ‘lava’. • For a violent and messy eruption, drop a Mentos lolly into a bottle of cola.

• For a more gentle eruption (made using a more advanced method), combine yeast, detergent, and hydrogen peroxide. bit.ly/N45qHh

You can make the volcano form in different ways too – the only limit is your imagination!

• The quickest and easiest way is to pile sand into a cone shape and create a hollow at the top. • Use clay for a longer-lasting volcano. You can paint it once it dries.

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Supporting material

Online resources

• Te Papa tepapa.govt.nz/Education/OnlineResources

Access the Awesome Forces teacher resource on the Te Papa website for more information on this exhibition and activity ideas to use with your students.

• Collections Online, Te Papa tepapa.govt.nz/collections

Search for ‘Earthquakes’ and ‘Volcanoes’ on Collections Online to see images of past earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in New Zealand and overseas, and to learn about their impact.

• GNS Science gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Lesson-Plans and gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics

The GNS Science website includes education resources on the Earth sciences and how to prepare for events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

• What’s the Plan, Stan? whatstheplanstan.govt.nz

This website helps teachers and students understand what causes natural hazards and how to be prepared for when they happen.

• TKI tki.org.nz/Supporting-student-learning/Wellbeing-after-the-earthquakes

TKI contains useful resources for supporting students after an earthquake.

• National Geographic bit.ly/National-Geographic-Article

‘Active Earth’ is a National Geographic article on the Earth’s inner workings. It also contains supporting activities. bit.ly/teachers-guide

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Check out fact sheets, games, and resources on geology.

• This Dynamic Planet volcano.si.edu/tdpmap

Explore an interactive world map of volcanoes, earthquakes, impact craters, and plate tectonics.

• Discovery Kids Volcano Explorer bit.ly/PphHEi