Introduction

When people think of volcanoes, visions of fiery eruptions spewing molten lava thousands of feet into the air, causing injury, death, and massive destruction, usually come to mind.  What we don't usually think about is how people and  volcanoes have been closely associated for thousands of years. People often settle and live near volcanoes because of the benefits that they offer, including rich soils for farming, useful minerals, and hot springs.

In this project  you and the people in your group will investigate how volcanoes affect the people who live near them.
 
 

You  and the members of your group will make  a documentary about life in a volcanic region.
Your group will be assigned a specific volcano or volcanic region and will then choose a particular topic from the list that follows for research. Based on your research, your group will prepare a multimedia documentary, which includes a PowerPoint^® presentation, about the volcanic region, for presentation to the rest of the class.

Your documentary must:
 

• describe the type of volcano you have been assigned and give its history
• focus on one topic, such as how people have benefited from living near the volcano or how people show the volcano in their art and stories
• use a variety of media including, a PowerPoint^® presentation,  as part of the final product.

1. The class will be divided into groups of 4 people for this project.
2. Each group will be assigned a volcano or volcanic region. 
3. With the other members of your group, Decide on one topic to research about how people there have been affected.
4. Research the volcano or volcanic region your group has been assigned and the topic your group has chosen. A variety of resource materials including appropriate web sites are included below. As you do your research, take notes on the information you find.
5. Work with the other group members to plan your documentary. Decide which pieces of researched information best fit the topic your group chose. Decide how to present each piece of information. Make a story board that shows each major step in your group's presentation. Also identify which group member will present each step. All group members must participate in the presentation.
6. Use the story board as an outline to write your documentary and create the PowerPoint^® presentation.
7. Rehearse your group's presentation. Make sure that it fits the time limit that your teacher has allowed. Make any final changes and improvements.
8. With your group, present your documentary to the rest  of the class. Each member of the group should be prepared to answer questions about any part of your group's presentation.

Volcanoes and Volcanic Regions 

Topic Ideas

Here are some suggestions for topics about how volcanoes have affected people living nearby. Your group should choose only one topic to research.
 

• Myths and legends about a volcano
• Geothermal energy
• Hot springs for recreation and health
• Tourism in a volcanic region
• Uses of and products made from volcanic materials
• Volcanic soils and agriculture
• Evacuating people from a volcanic region
• Cleaning up and rebuilding after an eruption
• Archaeological excavations in a volcanic region
• Art and literature about a volcano 

Hints for Researching Information and Taking Notes

• Write down the topic your group has chosen on an index card. When you look though a source for information, refer back to the index card to remind yourself of the  topic.
• As you examine each source, ask yourself, "Which information is directly related to my group's topic?" Take notes only on that information.
• Take notes on a separate index card or sheet of paper for each source. Also write down the name of each source. Later, if your notes are unclear or you need more information, you'll be able to go  back to that source.
• At the top of each index card or sheet of paper, write a key word or phrase to tell you what those notes are about. For example, if you are researching how people show volcanoes in their art and you find some information about pictures of volcanoes or pottery, write pottery as the key word. When your group is ready to plan your documentary, all the pottery notes can be grouped together.

Resources

Web Sites:

The American Museum of Natural History - EarthBulletin - Volcanoes  http://earthbulletin.amnh.org/A/

U.S Geological Survey, Volcano Hazards Program   http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/

Volcanoes Online http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/english.html?tqskip=1

Volcano World -- The Premier Source of Volcano Information   http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/

Howstuffworks "How Volcanoes Work "  http://howstuffworks.lycos.com/volcano.htm

In evaluating how well you complete the Living on The Edge Project, your teacher will rate your work in three categories. In each, a score of 4 is the best rating.
 

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Researching Information and Taking Notes	Consults only one or two source materials. Research notes are disorganized and generally unrelated to the topic.	Consults more than three source materials. Research notes are somewhat unorganized and include information unrelated to the topic.	Consults and adequate variety of source materials. Research notes are fairly well organized; most notes are related to the topic.	Consults a wide variety of appropriate source materials. Research notes are well organized and focused on the topic.
Planning, Creating , and Presenting the Documentary	Documentary is disorganized and unclear, includes much unrelated information, and makes poor use of audiovisual materials.	Documentary is rather disorganized and not always focused on the topic. Uses fewer audiovisual materials.	Documentary is organized, fairly clear, interesting, and focused on the topic. Audiovisual materials are used effectively.	Documentary is well organized, clear, interesting, and focused on the topic. Audiovisual materials are creative and well integrated.
Working Cooperatively	Participates marginally in planning, writing, and presenting the documentary; may create a simple audiovisual material suggested by others. Does not carry out all responsibilities and tasks as assigned by others.	Participates in most aspects of planning, writing, and presenting the documentary but offers few ideas. Undertakes responsibilities and tasks at others' direction.	Actively participates in planning, writing, and presenting the documentary, including offering ideas for audiovisual materials. Cooperates with others in sharing responsibilities; volunteers for specific tasks.	Takes a lead in planning, writing, and presenting the documentary, including suggesting ideas for and creating audiovisual materials. Successfully leads group to share responsibilities; helps allocate tasks based on group members' skills and interests.

At the completion of this project, you and the members of your group will have identified the type of volcano that you have been assigned and be familiar with its history.  You will have explored one way in which the volcano has affected the people who live near it. Additionally, you will have creatively presented your findings to the other people in your class.

Adapted from "Volcanoes and People" Chapter 3 Project  in Prentice Hall's Science Explorer: Inside Earth  http://www.phschool.com/atschool/science_explorer/index.html