Active learning ideas
Geological hazards, landslides, tsunamis, and sinkholes, pose significant risks to human life and infrastructure. This topic focuses on identifying the geological conditions that lead to these events, such as slope angle, rock type, and pore-water pressure. Students learn how human activities, such as deforestation or improper drainage, can increase the frequency and severity of these hazards.
Activity 01
Using trays of soil and sand, students experiment with 'angle of repose'. They observe how adding water or removing the 'toe' of the slope leads to failure. They then compete in small groups to design the most effective retaining wall or drainage system using limited materials.
How can the risk of landslides be reduced?
Activity 02
Students are given a map of the Pacific and real-time 'seismic alerts'. They must use the distance from the epicentre and wave speed to calculate arrival times for different coastal cities and decide when to issue evacuation orders. This highlights the pressure of real-world hazard management.
What warning systems exist for tsunamis?
Activity 03
Students look at a geological map of a town built on limestone vs. one built on granite. They discuss in pairs which town is at higher risk of sinkholes and what human actions (like leaking water pipes) might trigger a collapse.
How do human activities exacerbate geological hazards?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Tsunamis are just big 'surfing' waves.
A tsunami is a 'wall of water' or a rapidly rising tide that doesn't recede quickly; it carries immense energy because the entire column of water is moving. Using videos and physical models of water displacement helps students understand the scale of the energy involved.
Landslides only happen on very steep mountains.
Even gentle slopes can fail if the rock layers are tilted (dip) in the same direction as the slope or if the soil is saturated. Peer-led investigation of 'dip slopes' helps students identify hidden risks in seemingly safe landscapes.
Methods used in this brief
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