Module Four

The massive area of land now called Alaska has been the location of many sorts of cataclysmic events, some within recent history that allow us to learn about the events from the stories of people who witnessed the events, some within generational history that allow us to learn about the events from the stories of people who have kept that history, whether in writing or by oral tradition, and some within a history so distant that it is the earth alone who tells the stories. These stories of cataclysmic events help students learn about geosciences and cultures by viewing those natural events from a human perspective.

For the most part, volcanoes are classified as active, dormant, and extinct, and that they occur mainly at the edge of geologic characteristics known as plates, which was the subject of earlier study. Here’s a regional map of Alaska volcanoes that shows that volcanoes appear in every part of Alaska. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, more than three-quarters of the volcano eruptions in the United States in the last 200 years have occurred in what is now the state of Alaska on an average of about one eruption per year. Stories of volcanic events are less common in Southeast Alaska, but there’s no surprise that in areas such as Hawaii and the Aleutian Islands, these stories figure more prominently in a culture’s history. 

The new learning that I’m taking away from this week’s module have to do with more specific information about underwater hotspots, and, of course, even more Google Earth. Another new bit of information I’m taking is the measurement tool known as smoots. I’m happy that I now know not only the history of the measurement, but also its practical application to bridges. It would be fun to use this information as a learning tool in a project that asks students to measure certain areas—their rooms, the distance from their front door to the sidewalk, the width of the playground—and perhaps extend that to large distances that connect communities and cultures, all in the name of it being fun to learn.

The TD tools are invaluable, and I plan to build a sizeable file. Applying new knowledge to the classroom is an ever-challenging task, but for the generation of students who are movie-goers, here’s a fun website that connects volcanoes and popular culture.

Doug’s blog mentions human stories, an important connection. Dan’s blog offers something I found irresistible—a corny volcano song. I found Janet’s writing about images and sounds of earthquakes and waves evocative. And Alison’s restatement of lessons on P waves and S waves was also very helpful.