My experience as a Roman historian and archaeologist gives me a unique insight into this well known event. Join me as we look at the new discoveries and examine the ancient eruption that destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii. I am an extremely interactive and involved teacher and I am looking forward to teaching the science of Pompeii to your student. Let's get into the geology, volcanology, and archaeology of this ancient city and the catastrophic event that led to it's unique preservation. A big volcano plus archaeology equals science fun!

1. Let's get to know the city of Pompeii. How did people spend their day, eat, and live in this ancient city? We will look at the ruins and art uncovered during the ongoing excavations at Pompeii. 
2. The Beginnings of the eruption. How did the eruption start? Was there any prior warning? How much knowledge did the people of the Roman world have about volcanoes? What were the first waves of the eruption like for the city?
3. Pliny the Elder and Younger. Plinian eruption. Let's examine the eruption. How did it proceed? What's a Plinian eruption? What role did the well-known Romans, Pliny the Elder and the Younger, have in our current understanding of the 79CE eruption of Vesuvius? 
4. Carbonization of Herculaneum. Why were the effects of the eruption different in Pompeii vs Herculaneum- the neighboring town? Let's look at the carbonized remains from Herculaneum and see what they tell us about that day in 79 CE. How does carbonization work and why wasn't the paint on the plaster walls also carbonized?
5. Destruction of Pompeii and the victims. Is it possible for a brain to turn to glass? Can we preserve the victims of this 2000 year old disaster? How do the victims differ between Pompeii and Herculaneum and how can such a difference occur in the same eruption? What can we learn about the effects of the eruption from these remains?
6. The current debate. August or October? In an argument where it's History versus Archaeology... science always wins. Did you know that there is now a current archaeological/ historical debate regarding the date of the eruption that destroyed Pompeii? We have long set the date at August 24 79 CE from the letter of Pliny the Younger, but the archaeology tells a different tale. How could this happen? 

I hope you will join me as we get inside the dangerous Vesuvius and understand the nature of its eruption and the effects on the surrounding populations. This will be an Indiana Jones look into the archaeology of Pompeii and the science of the volcano that doomed it. Science and history are fun!