Explain that volcanic activity can be seen as destructive when you think about its impact on the landscape, bridges, home, highways, wildlife and people. Provide original groups with butcher paper and colored marking pens. As a lead-in to further work with this unit, direct them to brainstorm what they already know about volcanoes and volcanic eruptions. After ten minutes or so, have groups share with the class their questions and needs for additional information about the topic. Post a composite list of questions in the classroom, so that you can refer back to them as the unit progresses.
Unanswered questions can also be the starting points for students' final independent projects.
You and your friends have spent your first day fishing and swimming in a nearby river, scouting the trails for a hike you plan to take tomorrow, eating, laughing, and generally having a wonderful time. By evening you are all exhausted, ready for dinner and an early bedtime. But one member of the group, Rudy, can't sleep. His restless movements around the cabin keep disturbing your dreams, and the others are complaining that he's keeping them awake, too. By dawn, your sleepless friend is up, crashing around the kitchen, fixing breakfast.