Lesson Plan

Wave Watching

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Seismologists use the direction and arrival times of p waves and s waves to determine the distance to the source of an earthquake. The engaging lesson has students line up to form human waves. Through different movements when attached, like a solid, and unattached, like a liquid, they form an understanding of p waves and s waves—both on ground and underwater. The eighth lesson in the 20-part series connects earthquakes to seismic waves.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Discuss if the wave formation would be different if the triggering earthquake happened underwater or on shore near water
Classroom Considerations
  • Lesson may take just over an hour and a half if a brisk pace is not maintained
  • Requires one Slinky for every four students
Pros
  • Ideal for both kinetic and visual learners
  • Provides a link to a PowerPoint animation on the types of waves
Cons
  • None
Common Core