• The Ring of Fire is highlighted with a thick red/orange outline around the Pacific Plate
• There are icons for earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis all along the Ring of Fire
• The convergent boundary symbol appears along the tectonic plate lines
• Photos of real disasters (e.g., 2010 Chile Earthquake, 2004 Indonesia Tsunami) are labeled with dates and places
• Multiple tectonic plates (e.g., Nazca, Eurasian, North American) are named and shown on the map

EXTENDING THE DISCUSSION
After the observational question, randomly call on one or more students to share what they or their partner answered. Then ask the class, “Did anyone notice…?” using the suggestions above or anything else you’ve noticed.

• Why are there so many disaster symbols in the same area around the Pacific?
• What causes the tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquakes shown in the pictures?
• Why is this area called the Ring of Fire when the color is purple/orange and it’s about more than fire?
• What does the convergent boundary symbol mean?
• How are the tectonic plates moving in these areas?

EXTENDING THE DISCUSSION
After students have shared what they notice, ask the class, “Did anyone wonder…?” using the suggestions above or anything else you might think is interesting or relevant to the lesson.

To the observational question, What is the Ring of Fire?

LOW-LEVEL

The Ring of Fire is a place where there are a lot of earthquakes and volcanoes around the ocean.

HIGH-LEVEL

The Ring of Fire is a tectonically active zone around the Pacific Plate where many earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis occur due to convergent boundaries between plates.

RESPONDING TO RESPONSES
Emphasize and celebrate each student’s use of the key vocabulary to support a culture of “no wrong answers.”