Activity 1: Let's Get Started! 🤔 (Warm-up Discussion)
Let's discuss the wild and geothermal wonders of Yellowstone.
- When you think of Yellowstone National Park, what are the first three images that come to mind? Is it the Old Faithful geyser, the bison, or the colorful hot springs?
- Yellowstone is essentially a massive active volcano. How does this fact change your perspective on visiting a place of such natural beauty?
- If you had one day in Yellowstone, would you prefer to watch for wildlife like bears and wolves, see the geothermal features like geysers, or go for a hike in the wilderness? Why?
Activity 2: New Words & Phrases 🗣️ (Vocabulary Expansion)
Enhance your vocabulary for describing the experience of Yellowstone at an intermediate level.
1. Geyser (noun): A hot spring in which water intermittently boils, sending a tall column of water and steam into the air.
Example: "Old Faithful is a famous Geyser known for its predictable and regular eruptions."
2. Geothermal (adjective): Relating to the internal heat of the earth.
Example: "The park is home to a vast array of Geothermal features, including hot springs, mudpots, and geysers."
3. Supervolcano (noun): A volcano capable of producing a volcanic eruption with an ejecta volume greater than 1,000 cubic kilometers.
Example: "Yellowstone National Park is situated over a massive, active Supervolcano."
4. Bison (noun): A shaggy-haired wild ox with a humped back, also known as an American buffalo.
Example: "We had to stop our car to let a large herd of Bison cross the road."
5. Hot spring (noun phrase): A spring of naturally hot water, typically heated by subterranean volcanic activity.
Example: "The Grand Prismatic Hot spring is famous for its rainbow-like colors."
6. Wilderness (noun): An uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region; a wild and natural area.
Example: "Exploring the backcountry trails gives you a true sense of the vast Wilderness of Yellowstone."
Activity 3: Reading - A Land of Fire and Ice 📖
Read this descriptive account of exploring America's first national park.
Yellowstone National Park is a place of raw, primordial power. It sits atop a giant Supervolcano, a fact that becomes immediately apparent as you explore its landscape. The ground itself seems alive. A walk along the boardwalks of the Upper Geyser Basin reveals a stunning variety of Geothermal features. You can see bubbling mudpots, steaming fumaroles, and vividly colored Hot springs. The most famous resident of this basin is Old Faithful, a Geyser that erupts with remarkable predictability, shooting a massive column of hot water and steam high into the air. Watching this powerful display is a classic Yellowstone experience, a direct connection to the immense heat and pressure churning just beneath the earth's surface.
Beyond the Geothermal wonders, Yellowstone is one of the last great, nearly-intact temperate ecosystems on Earth. It is a vast Wilderness that serves as a sanctuary for an incredible array of wildlife. Driving through the Lamar or Hayden Valleys at dawn or dusk offers the best chance to see these animals. It is not uncommon to encounter a huge herd of Bison grazing peacefully, their powerful forms a symbol of the American West. Lucky visitors might spot a grizzly bear, a wolf pack in the distance, or a majestic bald eagle soaring overhead. These encounters are thrilling and humbling, a powerful reminder that you are a visitor in their wild home.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone offers another dramatic facet of the park's beauty. Here, the Yellowstone River has carved a deep canyon through yellow volcanic rock, creating two spectacular waterfalls. The vibrant yellow, orange, and red hues of the canyon walls are a stunning sight, especially when viewed from Artist Point. The combination of powerful waterfalls, a colorful canyon, and the surrounding pine forest creates a breathtaking landscape. Whether you are watching a Geyser erupt, waiting patiently for a herd of Bison to cross the road, or staring into the depths of the colorful canyon, Yellowstone offers a profound connection to the wild, untamed forces that continue to shape our planet.
Activity 4: Discussion Questions 🗣️
Based on the reading in Activity 3, discuss the following questions with a partner or in a group.
- Does watching a "Geyser" erupt sound like an exciting experience to you?
- What is your opinion of a landscape with many "Geothermal" features like hot springs?
- Would you be more interested in seeing a "Bison" herd or a grizzly bear in the "Wilderness"?
- Does the idea of a "Supervolcano" under the park make it more or less interesting to visit?
- After reading the text, what is your main impression of Yellowstone's character?