Virtual Science Teachers

ESS2-2 Bell Ringers

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A comparison of the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains
Why do you think the Appalacian Mountains are much smoother than the Rocky Mountains?

Common Misconceptions

Additional Resources

Video: New Tab 

Mount Saint Helens
This picture was taken 20 years after the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens.
How does the surface of the Earth look different as a result of the Mount Saint Helens eruption?

Common Misconceptions

  • The Earth’s surface has always looked the same.
  • Plate tectonics is a recent phenomenon.
  • Mountains are permanent
  • Volcanoes only exist on land.
  • All volcanoes are alike.
Norway Fjords
This area in Norway was covered by glaciers during the last ice age (about 2.5 million to about 11,500 years ago).
How could glaices be responsible for the formation of fjords like this one in Norway. Include a diagram in your explanation.
Note: a fjord is a long, narrow deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs.

Common Misconceptions

  • The surface of the Earth does not change much.

Additional Resources

Video: New Tab 

 

Mountains in Hawaii
There Hawaiian mountains were formed approximately 40-70 million years ago as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions.
Since their formation, how do you think the mountains have changed? What doyou think causes them to change?

Common Misconceptions

  • Volcanoes only exist on land
  •  Hawaii was formed by a single volcanic eruption
  • Hawaii is a single landmass
  • Hawaii was formed by a meteor impact
  • Hawaii’s volcanoes are extinct
  • The Hawaiian islands were always tropical
  • The surface of the Earth does not change much.

Additional Resources

 

Giants Causeway
Giant's Causeway in Ireland formed between 50 to 60 million years ago when lava oozed from fissures (cracks in the earth). When the molten rock cooled and contracted, it cracked into about 40,000 basalts (laval that cooled rapidly) columns, mostly in near-perfect hexagonal shapes.
Draw a diagram that shows the process that made the basalt columns.
Label the lava, fissures, and basalt columns.

Common Misconceptions

  • The surface of the Earth does not change much.
  • The Giant’s Causeway was formed by volcanic eruptions.
  • The Giant’s Causeway was formed recently.

Additional Resources

Video: New Tab

Plate boundary in Iceland
The Eurasian tectoic plate and the North American tectonic plate move apart at the rate of about 2 cm a year at this spot in Iceland.
What do you think is causing the plates to move apart?
About how much farther apart will these cliffs be when you are 60 years old?

Common Misconceptions

  • The surface of the Earth doesn’t change much.
  • Plate tectonics is a recent phenomenon.
  • Plate tectonics only occurs on land.
  • Plate boundaries never change.
  • Plate tectonics is always a slow process.

 

Additional Resources

NOAA: New Tab

NHM Oology: New Tab

Iceland Black Sands Beach
Why do you think the sand on this beach in Iceland is black?
What processes do you think created this sand?

Common Misconceptions

 

Additional Resources

Video: New Tab

Volcano Erupting
Explain why volcanoes erupt.
Include a labeled diagram as part of your explanation.

Common Misconceptions

  • Volcanoes only exist on land.
  • Volcanoes are not active anymore.
  • Volcanic eruptions begin at the top of the volcano.
Volcano Eruption
Explain where lava comes from and why it's so hot.
Include a labeled diagram as part of your explanation.

Common Misconceptions

  • Volcanoes only exist on land.
  • Volcanoes are not active anymore.
  • Volcanic eruptions begin at the top of the volcano.