Seconds from Disaster

• Suitable for Levels 2 & 3 (S1-3)

What will my pupils do in the workshop?

Background to disaster

• As a class, find out about the Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat.

Role play

• Students become one of three groups:
  • Scientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory
  • The authorities
  • The public.

• Work in teams to decide:
  • Will the volcano erupt? If so, how dangerous will it be?
  • Should an evacuation be ordered, and of what area? What are the consequences of this decision?
  • Would you stay at home, if your house were in the exclusion zone?

The reality

• Students will discover what really happened when the Soufriere Hills Volcano erupted.

This workshop can be complimented by a visit to our Restless Earth gallery.

Curriculum areas and key learning outcomes

Capacities

This workshop will help learners to develop in each of the Curriculum for Excellence Capacities

Successful learners: Pupils will use their literacy skills and have opportunity to think independently and as part of a group, to make reasoned judgments applying their learning in an unfamiliar situation.

Confident individuals:  Pupils will relate to others and manage themselves during group discussions.  Developing an awareness of what they think, believe and value, while growing in confidence in expressing their views. The content of the workshop provides a useful exercise in assessing risk.

Responsible Citizens: Pupils adopt the roles of various political, economic and demographic characters as they evaluate an environmental, scientific and technological issue.  As a result they will have experience developing informed ethical views of complex issues.

Effective Communicators:  An enterprising attitude is essential as pupils test their communication skills in an unfamiliar scenario. They will work in team, with individuals taking leading roles to apply critical thinking to ultimately solve the problem presented.