INITIAL IDEAS

1. Read a little about Colorado’s largest earthquake and try to explain it.

2. Complete a self-evaluation of your initial ideas.

PART 1 DEVELOPING IDEAS

1. Share what you can figure out as you learn about what can happen at the boundaries between two plates and play with this earthquake database. Then, test yourself on different plate boundaries.

2. Share what comes up for you as you watch Aftershock documentary. Then, try to explain how the Himalayas formed and why there are earthquakes in the region. Finally, trace the deep history Kathmandu, explore the region in our earthquake database, and learn a little about the seismic history of the Himalayan mountain range as you add a comment, updating your response to the previous question. If you’re feeling stuck, this Ted Talk will help.

3. Share some big ideas that have come up so far and work together to develop a list of ideas that could help explain why there are mountains here. Then, take 1.02 Quiz 1 as you watch Earthstorm: Earthquakes.
4. Share why you think the Appalachian Mountains look so different from the Himalayan Mountains as you learn about the history of the Appalachian Mountains, examine their location in our earthquake database, and research the deep history of Appalachia, Virginia.

5. Use what we’ve learned so far to try to make sense of our Rocky Mountains as you explore the region in our earthquake database and examine topographic maps of the United States and Asia.

6. Work together to develop a shared list of ideas that could help explain why there are mountains here and evaluate your contributions in Part 1 Developing Ideas 1.02.

PART 2 DEVELOPING IDEAS

1. Respond to some big questions about several mountains and volcanoes using independent research and the resources provided.

2. Try to make sense of earthquakes that happen in places that are really far away from a plate boundaries as you take a look at this earthquake map and experience one of these kinds of earthquakes. Then, add a revised explanation as a comment on your initial post as you examine this graph, learn about how seismologists have made sense of intraplate earthquakes and recent earthquake activity in Oklahoma.

3. Share some big ideas that have come up so far and work together to develop a list of ideas that could help explain why there are mountains here as you watch Earthstorm: Earthquakes.

4. Try to explain how there’s an active Volcano in Colorado as you learn a little about the mystery of Dotsero. Then, add a revised explanation in the comments section of your post as you explore how Dotsero, the Rio Grande Rift, and Colorado’s 1882 Earthquake may be connected.

5. Explain how you think our Rocky Mountains formed as you listen to Brandon talk about one explanation for the formation of the Rockies, explore a few other ideas and uncertainties, and learn about some more advanced tectonic ideas and terminology.

6. Work together to develop a shared list of ideas that could help explain why there are mountains here and evaluate your contributions in Part 2 Developing Ideas 1.02.

ENDURING IDEAS

Use our checklist of big ideas and this enduring ideas document to address the following question: How are there earthquakes in Colorado?