Today’s Walking Classroom discusses hot springs and geysers, two related types of hydrothermal activity found in areas near volcanoes. Hydrothermal comes from two Greek words, hydro meaning water and therme meaning heat. Hot springs form when water that has risen to the surface of the earth collects in heated pools while geysers shoot fountains of water and steam into the air. Hydrothermal activity occurs all over the world, but is observed mostly in Iceland, New Zealand, and Yellowstone National Park.
Character Value: Approaching obstacles
Click for Standards Alignment
Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
RST.6-8.4
Next Generation Science Standards
PS–Physical Science | LS–Life Science | ESS–Earth and Space Science | ETS–Engineering, Technology and the Application of Science Elementary School: 4-ESS1-1, 5-ESS2-1Middle School: MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-3
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Hot Springs and Geysers Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
Hot Springs and Geysers Slide Deck
Includes dramatic footage of bubbling mud features in New Zealand.
Shows natural phenomena at Yellowstone.
Presents footage of Yellowstone geysers.
Demonstrate knowledge of hot springs and geysers by finding the hidden words.
Take a virtual tour and explore the hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park.
Learn more about hot springs and geysers then test knowledge with this quick interactive quiz from Easy Science for Kids.
Examine a simulated hot spring and explore how pH and temperature influence the growth of organisms in hot springs and other environments in this activity from the Thermal Biology Institute at Montana State University.
Create a geyser in this easy hands-on activity from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
See More Podcasts in Subject Area: Science
See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Earth Science, Geology