AOI: Environments
Newspaper Task Sheet: Mount St Helens
Questions and Facts Interview /Ideas Picture/Layout/Spelling
Knowledge /10
Concepts /10
O/P /8
Read P42 and P43 in Introduction to Geography.
Answer these Questions.
1. What is the, “Ring of Fire”?
“The ring of fire” is the name of the pacific tectonic plate and it was named that because there
were a lot of violent eruptions along the edge of that tectonic plate.
2. Why do scientists monitor volcanic activity?
Scientists monitor volcanic activity so that they would know when a volcano would be likely to
erupt and then they would be ready for that eruption.
3. How did the eruption of Mount Saint Helens affect the environment of the surrounding area?
The eruption of Mount Saint Helens killed many people but it’s a good thing that they evacuated
or more people would have been killed, the volcano also destroyed part of its self and it
changed shape.
4. Create a newspaper report retelling the events of the eruption of Mount Saint Helens using the
writing frame to help to you. You must include: a) Newspaper Name
b) Headline
c) Facts written as if you were there at the time.
d) Date of event.
e) Interview with a survivor.
f) Picture drawn by yourself.
Newspaper name: Daily disasters
Headline: What happened at Mount Saint Helens?
Facts: Mount Saint Helens is a stratovolcano
located in Skamania County, Washington. Yet this
volcano is still active, yesterday May 18 this
volcano had a massive eruption. This eruption
resulted in many deaths and destructions of many
structures, roads, and homes. Precisely 57 people
were killed, 250 homes, 47 bridges and 185 miles
of highway were destroyed. This eruption was
actually much bigger than previous eruptions from
the volcano. It was so violent that it created a 5.1
Richter scaled earthquake that was caused by a
sudden surge of magma from the earth’s mantle.
The lava from the eruption reduced the elevation
of the mountains summit from 9,677 ft. to 8,365
ft. and created a giant, horseshoe shaped crater on
the mountain. Many animals and humans were
killed during this eruption including the famous
photographer David A. Johnston. We have been
experiencing a series of earthquakes and steam
venting episodes before this eruption occurred.
This eruption was one of the most massive natural
disasters that happened this century, Skamania
County is really experiencing the most stressful
times it ever did.
Picture
Interview: What is your name? “Jack Moore”
Where were you during the eruption? I was trying to
take a picture of Mount Saint Helens when it was still
peaceful but I then felt the ground shaking and saw
the volcano blow out smoke.
What did you do when the eruption occurred and how
did you survive? There was lava about 500 feet away
from me so I started running back until I reached the
town. The ground started shaking even more and the
next thing I know is that houses were crumbling down.
I kept running until I was far enough from the
earthquake and then a rescue helicopter came. I
shouted for it to come down and luckily it did so then I
got on and we flew off.