Research Project

Catastrophic Events Anchor Activity

Over the next several weeks you will be actively working on a research project focusing on one specific catastrophic event. You will be conducting research and writing an informational research paper in Language Arts. When that is completed, you will design a presentation based on what you learned for your Science class.

The topic of your research will focus on one specific catastrophic event such as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. The following details should be included in your research and presented in your paper and presentation:

When, where and how did this event occur? What caused it?
How did it affect human lives?
What physical damage and environmental effects resulted from this event?
How have people learned from this event?
How do people forecast future events like this one?

You will be given a packet to help you collect and organize your research and a guideline for writing your paper. As you gather information, you should keep a list of sources where you have found information. Attached you will find a list of possible topics to explore. No more than two students per team can choose the same topic. If there is a topic you would like to research that is not listed, ask your teacher for approval.

The following dates are a guideline to help ensure you complete your project on time. Please review these with your parents and sign below.

Research completed by:___________________________________

Written paper completed by: _______________________________

Presentation completed by:_________________________________

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Detach and return the bottom portion by: _________________________

We have read and reviewed the attached guidelines and time line for the Anchor Activity.

_________________________ _________________________

(student signature) (parent signature)

Possible Topics

A.D.79 Mt. Vesuvius, Italy Volcano

1815 Tambora, Indonesia Volcano (April 10)