Volcanoes

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             Each lesson is taught in a unique style; lessons are not monotonously tiresome, and do not require students to take notes strictly from lecture.  A variety of formats are used to introduce new topics, including Power Points, pictures, poems, and stories.  Furthermore, students are given, with each lesson, handouts that help guide their note taking.  Using these handouts, students are not compelled to write the entire period, but rather encouraged to write sparingly and participate often.  These handouts are structured in such a way that new vocabulary and content have a specific place to be recorded.  

            Active learning is a prime component to this unit.  Students are constantly encouraged to participate in the lessons, and many opportunities to actively learn are presented in these lessons.  Such opportunities include group work, videos, poetry writing, and class presentations.  Furthermore, these active learning opportunities also serve as strategies in which the teacher is able to monitor students for comprehension and understanding of the material.

            Along with opportunities to actively learn comes an opportunity to practice.  For homework, students are instructed to respond in their “Volcanologist Journals” to a specific topic.  These topics have been pre-selected by the teacher, and students are informed of these journal entry topics each day.  These topics are designed for students to practice their new knowledge, as well as apply what they have learned to “real-life” situations.  By practicing and making connections, students have a greater chance to retain their new knowledge of volcanoes and Earth’s changing surface.