Alan Kahn

Put a marble at one point along the ruler, but don't tell the students the cm position of the marble. Release the marble and let students observe that the marble moves the cup along the tabletop. Some students will likely say that the higher the marble is on the ramp, the farther the cup will move. Ask the students, "Why do you think so?" Encourage them to relate the marble and ramp to experiences they have sledding down a hill, skateboarding down a ramp, or sliding down a slide. Ask studen

This passage provides a compelling resource for teaching about volcanoes, particularly Mount St. Helens, by illustrating the powerful and ongoing impact of volcanic mudflows, or lahars. It details how the 1980 eruption triggered massive, fast-moving mudflows by rapidly melting snow and glacier ice, highlighting their destructive force as they carried debris, trees, and even vehicles downstream. The text also connects Mount St. Helens to other volcanic events, such as the deadly 1985 Nevado del R

This lesson provides an in-depth look at the dramatic eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 and its far-reaching impacts on the environment, communities, and even global atmospheric conditions. Students will explore how the eruption's massive ash cloud traveled at high speeds, darkening the skies over cities like Yakima and Spokane, disrupting daily life, and causing severe respiratory hazards. Using real-world data and eyewitness accounts, this engaging lesson will help students understand the s

This lesson continues to explain how volcanoes are related to the Earth's lithosphere. With a basic understanding of how volcanoes erupt, students focus on the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens. They see how changes to the volcano's shape in the month prior to the eruption reflected changes that were taking place inside of the volcano. They also learn that volcanic eruptions can destroy the landforms they help create. The May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens is a dramatic example

Volcanoes is an interdisciplinary set of materials for grades 4-8. Through the story of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, students will answer fundamental questions about volcanoes: "What is a volcano?" "Where do volcanoes occur and why?" "What are the effects of volcanoes on the Earth system?" "What are the risks and the benefits of living near volcanoes?" "Can scientists forecast volcanic eruptions?" This first lesson is free and over time I will add to it.