Lesson: The Fight Over Pompeii

Use images to spark a discussion about volcanoes.

• Share the illustration and diagram on pages 4-5 of the magazine with students.

• Ask them what they already know about volcanoes. Review the steps in the volcano diagram “Inside a Volcano” (page 5). Discuss which parts of an eruption happen slowly (1 and 2) and which happen quickly (3 and 4).

• Have students complete and discuss the “The Planet’s Plates” map skills sheet.

Use text evidence to discuss a conflict between scientists.

• Read the article aloud. Ask: Why is the work of Pompeii’s archaeologists and volcanologists important? (Archaeologists uncover artifacts, which help them learn about life in the Roman Empire; volcanologists study layers of soil to learn about Vesuvius’s past eruptions and predict future eruptions.)

• Discuss the conflict. Ask: How might one group’s work affect the other? (Archaeologists dig through layers of soil to find remains. Volcanologists need to analyze undisturbed layers of soil.) What are the consequences of this conflict? (If volcanologists can’t study the soil for clues, they might not be able to predict future eruptions and protect people.)

• Have students discuss the article’s featured careers using the Learning Journey (located at the bottom of the scrollable online article and previewed in Your Teaching Support Package below).

Use a hands-on model to compare and contrast archaeology and volcanology.

• Discuss the steps of “Uncover With Care” (page 7). (If sand or soil isn’t available, substitute flour or coffee grounds. The two layers that represent soils should be different colors.) Invite students to share and compare results.

• Have students brainstorm ways to solve the conflict. Students should pick one idea to share with the class, explaining why they think it would be a fair solution.

Watch a video about Pompeii and respond to a primary source.

• Watch the video “What You Need to Know About Pompeii.” Ask students to share what they learned from the video. Ask: What was it like to be in Pompeii as the eruption started?

• Share Straight From the Source with students. Read the words of Pliny the Younger aloud before students answer the questions. Explain any new words or phrases.

Assess student understanding with critical thinking questions.

• Have students complete the “Think It Through” skills sheet or the “Quick Quiz” to assess reading comprehension.

⇨ Learning Journey: Archaeologists study human history. Volcanologists study volcanoes. Which career would interest you more? What questions do you still have about that career? How could you find the answers to your questions?