Publisher

Instructional Video

The Unusual Formation of the Hawaiian Islands

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

How are the Hawaiian Islands different from other island chains? Discover the surprising geologic history of Hawaii with a video from a cool physics playlist. The narrator takes a hike with some geologists and discusses mantle plume theory, which may be responsible for Hawaii's very existence.

20 Views 15 Downloads CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

geology, geologic history, hawaii, volcanic eruptions, volcanoes, islands, magma, iron, the pacific ocean, magnetism, the earth's magnetic field, plate tectonics, thermal energy, the earth's mantle, rocks, basalt

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

Use the video toward the end of a plate tectonics unit to show pupils an example of current geology research
Project the Google Earth view of Hawaii and trace the mantle plume path all the way to Siberia

Classroom Considerations

Before watching the video, talk with the class for a moment about plate tectonics to ensure they understand how islands normally form

This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

Explains the theory using terms and ideas that are very relatable for high school-aged learners
Satellite imagery and diagrams do an excellent job of helping viewers understand the concepts in the video

Cons

None

Common Core

View 68,893 other resources for 9th - Higher Ed Grade Science