VOLCANO
ENCOUNTER
A WebQuest for Mathematics and Science Using Fractions
Designed by
Shawn Haddix
Mt. Helens Volcano, Oregon
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page
Introduction
You and your partner have been chosen by the American
Geological Institute to observe and monitor a new volcano
located near the small town of Filibuster, Washington. The
American Geological Institute wants a report on what the
conditions of the new volcano currently are. They are
interested in how it was formed, how long it has been there,
how big it is, what type of volcano it is, and what is going on
inside the new volcano. They want you to compare it to
other famous volcanoes by telling with fractions how it
compares to others. For example, is the volcano one-half
the size of others, three-fourths the size of others, etc.?
What your team discovers and learns about the volcano
could help prevent a natural disaster from occurring. Since
your team is the first to visit this volcano, you and your
partner get to name this cool geological creation! The name
may be any one that you and your partner choose
(remember, it must be appropriate!).
The Task
Your team will observe the volcano for three months, and
then prepare a report for the American Geological Institute.
Before being allowed to participate in this awesome
adventure, the Geologic Institute requires your team to
learn as much as you can about volcanoes and how they
work.
Your team will visit a number of volcano-related websites
that the American Geological Institute has set aside for your
team’s training. You must demonstrate that you can deliver
a report that meets the standards established by them.
Karymsky Volcano
The Process
1.
2.
First, you will be assigned to a partner.
After partners have been chosen, you and your
partner will decide who will write down the information
found on the websites and who will do the research (a
good idea might be to share the responsibilities by
taking turns).
3. You and your partner will visit the websites below,
and gather information about 5 volcanoes to answer
the questions the American Geological Institute has set
before you (the ones listed in the introductory part of
the WebQuest). The directors of the American
Geological Institute expect you to compare 5 known
volcanoes to each other using fractions. You can
compare the size of the volcanoes to each other, the
distance the lava flowed, the frequency of eruptions,
or any other comparisons that your team decides
upon. The directors expect that you will compare the
volcanoes in at least three different categories (height,
magma produced, etc.).
4. After you and your partner have visited the websites
listed below and gathered enough information to
complete the task, it will be time to organize your
findings (you and your partner may choose to use
flowcharts, summary tables, concept maps, or any
other organizational technique). Remember, it will
make it much easier to write the report if your
information is organized into some kind of system.
5. After your information is organized, then it is time to
write the report. To make the report writing process
easier, you and your partner should take turns working
on the report. For example, one person might write
the introduction and one supporting paragraph, while
the other person writes another supporting paragraph
and maybe the conclusion.
6. Finally, it is time to write the final draft of the report
to give to the American Geological Institute.
(Remember, to check grammar and spelling before
printing off the finished product!)
Website Resources
How Volcanoes Work
Smithsonian Institution - Global Volcanism Program:
Complete Holocene Volcano and Eruption Information
MTU Volcanoes Page
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes
http://www.usgs.gov/themes/volcano.html
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/volc
Volcano_images
Evaluation
Your teacher will use the following rubric to evaluate your
work. Take time to evaluate your work yourself – using this
rubric. See if you are satisfied with the score you will
receive. If not, review your work and see how you can
improve it before turning it in.
Beginning
Developing
Accomplished
Exemplary
1
2
3
4
This paper
has between
five and ten
grammatical
mistakes
and is easy
to follow
This paper
has between
zero and five
mistakes and
is very easy
to follow
Grammar Paper has
and over all between
quality of
fifteen and
the report
This paper
has between
ten and
twenty
fifteen
grammatical grammatical
mistakes
mistakes
and is hard and is easier
to follow
to follow
Group
work versus Students did
individual
Students
not work
work
worked well
Students
well
together, worked well
together and
but each together and
each student
still did not
each did
did not do
do their
their part of
his or her
part of the the project
part of the
project
project
Different
websites
used
Students did
not use any
websites for
their project
Supporting Students did
facts for the not supply
report
enough facts
to
completely
answer the
Students
used one
website for
their project
Students
used two
websites for
their project
Students
worked
exceptionally
well together
and each did
an excellent
job on their
project
Students
used two or
more
websites for
their project
Students
Students
Students
supplied
supplied
supplied
enough facts enough facts more than
to answer a to
enough facts
few of the
completely
to
questions
answer the
completely
Score
questions mentioned
mentioned in the
in the
introduction
introduction
questions
answer the
mentioned
questions
in the
mentioned in
introduction
the
introduction.
Wrote
Students
Students
Students
about
used three or
knew how to used two
relative
Students did
more
sizes of
set up the
fractional
fractional
volcanoes not use
fraction to comparisons
fractions at
comparisons
and other
compare
to other
to other
comparisons all or did
two sizes
volcanoes,
by using
not compare
volcanoes,
together.
knowing
fractions
fractional
knowing
They used how to
parts
how to
only one
simplify the
correctly.
simplify the
fractional
fraction if
fraction if
comparison. appropriate.
appropriate..
Conclusion
After completing this activity, you and your partner will
have learned how to do research on the Web, developed
a basic understanding of volcanoes, how they work, how
to compare them mathematically to other volcanoes,
organized information into a formal report, learned
how to work with a partner and stay on task, and
hopefully developed a better appreciation for
mathematics and science concepts.
Challenge to You and Your Partner: Pick a topic in
science or mathematics that is of interest to you and do
some research on the Web. Once you have found a
topic, your task is to come up with a simple activity that
goes along with your topic. This is your chance to be
creative!
Question to Think About: How could a topic studied in
science be related to a topic studied in math, social
studies, English, or reading?
Veniaminof Volcano
Credits & References
Volcano websites
American Geological Institute - Serving the Geosciences
Since 1948
G. Brad Lewis - Volcano Image Catalog
Teacher Page
In doing this WebQuest, I hoped to accomplish
several objectives. I wanted the students who
participated in my WebQuest to better their
understanding of the Web. I feel the Web is a
very useful tool for conducting research and I
think students would benefit greatly from
utilizing the Web for this purpose.
Next, I wanted the students to gain experience
in gathering and organizing information and
then writing a simple report. My hope here was
that the students would get to practice their
writing skills at the same time they are
learning how to write a simple report.
I allowed the students to work with a partner
because I feel students need experience
working with other students. I wanted each
pair of students to learn how to work
successfully with each other. During the
process of working together, I wanted each
pair of students to take responsibility for their
part of the project.
Finally, I wanted to pick a topic in a subject
area that would spark interest in students and
allow them to explore and have fun. I think it
is very important students see learning is fun.
I chose the topic of volcanoes to try and
generate an interest of mathematics and
science in students. If you can develop an
appreciation for a subject in your students, I
think it makes it easier for your students to get
into what is being studied.
Last updated on 02 April 2004. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page