Lesson Plan: Studying Natural Phenomena - Sarychev Volcano Eruption from the International Space Station

⁣Lesson Plan: Studying Natural Phenomena - Sarychev Volcano Eruption from the International Space Station

Grade Level: 6-8

Subject: Earth Science

Duration: 60 minutes

Next Generation Science Standards:
- MS-ESS3-2: Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
- MS-ESS3-3: Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.

Objective:
Students will analyze and interpret data from the International Space Station (ISS) capturing the eruption of the Sarychev Volcano, and understand the impact of volcanic eruptions on Earth's environment.

Materials:
- Video footage or images of the Sarychev Volcano eruption from the ISS
- Text resources explaining volcanic eruptions and their environmental effects
- Chart paper or whiteboard for collaborative brainstorming
- Writing materials

Procedure:
1. Introduction (5 minutes):
- Display the title "Studying Natural Phenomena - Sarychev Volcano Eruption from the International Space Station" on the board.
- Engage students in a brief discussion about volcanic eruptions and their impacts.

2. Video/Image Analysis (15 minutes):
- Show the video footage or images of the Sarychev Volcano eruption captured from the ISS.
- Ask students to observe and describe what they see, noting the behavior of the volcano and any visible environmental changes.
- Encourage students to make connections between the eruption and its potential consequences.

3. Class Discussion (10 minutes):
- Facilitate a class discussion based on the video/image analysis, asking students to share their observations and interpretations.
- Discuss the potential environmental impacts of volcanic eruptions, such as ash clouds, pyroclastic flows, and the release of gases.

4. Textual Analysis (15 minutes):
- Provide text resources explaining volcanic eruptions, their causes, and their effects on Earth's environment.
- Assign students to read and analyze the texts individually or in small groups.
- Instruct students to highlight key information and make notes on the environmental impacts discussed.

5. Collaborative Brainstorming (10 minutes):
- Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with chart paper or a whiteboard.
- Instruct students to brainstorm and discuss the various environmental consequences of volcanic eruptions, based on both the video analysis and the text resources.
- Encourage students to consider factors such as air quality, climate change, and the impact on ecosystems and human populations.

6. Group Presentations and Discussion (10 minutes):
- Have each group present their findings and discuss their interpretations of the Sarychev Volcano eruption and its effects.
- Encourage students to support their claims with evidence from both the video/image analysis and the text resources.

7. Conclusion (5 minutes):
- Summarize the main points discussed during the lesson, emphasizing the importance of studying natural phenomena and understanding their impacts on Earth's environment.
- Encourage students to continue exploring and learning about other natural hazards and the potential for mitigating their effects.

Next Generation Science Standards Correlations:
- MS-ESS3-2
- MS-ESS3-3

On June 12, 2009, a fortuitous orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) made it possible for an astronaut on board to capture Sarychev Volcano in the early stages of eruption. The volcano is located on the northwestern end of Matua Island, which is part of the Kuril Islands, a chain of 56 islands northeast of Japan. The eruption sent a plume of brown-colored ash and white steam rising into the atmosphere. The plume was so immense that it cast a large shadow on the island. Sarychev is one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Island chain. Prior to June 12, the last explosive eruption occurred in 1989, with eruptions in 1986, 1976, 1954, and 1946 also producing lava flows. Watch the video to see how the eruption looked from space.A fortuitous orbit of the International Space Station allowed the astronauts this striking view of Sarychev Volcano (Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan) in an early stage of eruption on June 12, 2009. Sarychev Peak is one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Island chain, and it is located on the northwestern end of Matua Island.For more info:http://earthobservatory.nasa.g....ov/IOTD/view.php?id= video can be freely shared and downloaded at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11446. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11446. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit https://nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines.If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/NASAGoddardFollow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center· Instagram http://www.instagram.com/nasagoddard· Twitter http://twitter.com/NASAGoddard· Twitter http://twitter.com/NASAGoddardPix· Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NASAGoddard· Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc