Old Faithful Subjects Science Social Studies Mathematics Objective The student will trace the route of the Yellowstone hotspot and determine its projected course through North America. Materials Map of North America Access to Internet Background Many scientists believe that the Yellowstone hotspot is a stationary 50-mile (80.5 kilometer) wide plume of molten rock, originating about 125 miles (201 kilometers) within the Earth. The hotspot is expected to remain active for approximately 100 million years. The hotspot first encountered the North American plate about 16.5 million years ago near the border of present day northwestern Nevada and southeastern Oregon. As the North American plate slowly drifts to the southwest at the rate of approximately one inch (2.54 cm) per year, the intense heat of the hotspot has triggered a chain of volcanic eruptions in a northeasterly trend from northern Nevada to Yellowstone National Park. Procedure The instructor will: Ascertain that students understand that hotspots are associated with extensive volcanic activity, and that many scientists believe a hotspot remains stationary while the North American plate drifts across it. Provide students with maps of North America. Inform students that the North American plate's contact with a hotspot has produced a string of massive volcanic eruptions. Inform students that this hotspot first encountered the North American plate approximately 16.5 million years ago near the border of present day northwestern Nevada and southeastern Oregon. Instruct students to mark this location on their maps. Inform students that scientists believe Yellowstone National Park is presently located directly over the hotspot. Instruct students to mark this location on their maps. Direct students to draw a line from the first mark on their map to the mark indicating Yellowstone National Park. Inform students that over 100 volcanic eruptions have occurred in the 500-mile (805 kilometer) stretch represented by their line. Ask students to identify the direction in which evidence of the hotspot is appearing. Ask students to identify the direction in which the North American plate is drifting. Ask students to project the path in which evidence of the hotspot is expected to appear in the future. Have students draw a line in this direction across North America. Direct students to calculate the distance from Yellowstone National Park to the next major city (population greater than 50,000) along this line. Inform students that the North American plate moves at the rate of approximately one inch (2.54 cm) per year, and have them calculate how many years will pass before evidence of hotspot activity may be found in the vicinity of the city in Procedure Step 8. Example: City X is located 150 miles from Yellowstone in the direction in which evidence of the hotspot is expected to appear. 150 miles =9,504,000 inches or 24,140,160 cm. Therefore, if the North American plate is moving at the rate of 1 inch (2.54 cm) per year, City X may encounter the hotspot in approximately 9.5 million years. Have students calculate the distance the North American plate might travel during the lifetime of the hotspot, assuming that hotspots are active for approximately 100 million years. Direct students to mark the location where the hotspot's last volcanic eruption might occur at the end of 100 million years. Assessment Attachment A: Rubric Calculations and maps of North America National Science Standards for Grades 5-8 NS.5-8.4 NS.5-8.6 National Social Studies Standards for Grades K-12 NSS.G.K-12.1 NSS-G.K-12.6 National Mathematics Standards NM-NUM.6-8.1 NM-NUM.6-8.2 NM-NUM.6-8.3 NM-MEA 6-8.2 NM-PROB.PK-12.1 NM-PROB.PK-12.2 NM-PROB.PK-12.3 NM-PROB.CONN.PK-12.3 This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No.0307709 Funding for this trip was provided by generous grants to the Yellowstone Park Foundation. Home | Curricular Materials | Ask An Expert | Evaluation | Contact Us ©The Yellowstone Park Foundation 2004 Privacy Disclaimer | Freedom of Information Act