Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Erosion and the Effects of Earthquakes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in an activity in which they simulate geological events such as earthquakes and erosion. For a fifteen to twenty minute time period, they shake a jar with 100 grams of marble chips and water. They measure the mass of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seismic Waves

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers work together to discuss seismic waves. Using seismograph records, they practice determining where the epicenter of the earthquake was located. They identify and illustrate the three types of waves and how the records can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Patterns

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify and interpret the cyclical nature of the Parkfield, California earthquakes. They then investigate and graph earthquake occurrences on the Mojave segment of the San Andreas fault and then on the Hayward fault in order to...
Worksheet
Curated OER

USGS Seismometer

For Students 5th - 8th
A large black-line diagram of a seismometer fills this page. It is not a activity, but rather an explanation of how a seismometer works. You could make a transparency of it or display it via a video screen when teaching about...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Earthquakes and Volcanoes

For Students 6th - 12th
In this earthquakes and volcanoes worksheet, students will review how volcanoes are formed and where they are found. Students will describe earthquakes and their magnitudes. Students will use a table to answer questions about tsunamis....
Worksheet
Curated OER

Earthquake Crossword Puzzle

For Students 4th - 6th
In this earthquake crossword puzzle, students complete a crossword using 13 clues about earthquake facts and plate tectonics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Activity

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students design and build a vehicle using Lego. In this earth science lesson, students analyze the factors they need to consider when building their vehicles. They present their finished project in class.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Build a Seismograph

For Students 8th - 10th
In this seismograph activity, students build a device to record the motion of a simulated earthquake. They give details of their structure and explain how it works. They present their device to the class and answer questions about their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth Moves Under My Feet

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study earthquakes, monitor seismic activity using the Web, and plot real-time activity. They examine movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. They create an earthquake preparedness project.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shake, Rattle and Roll

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the causes and effects of earthquakes. They also collect and analyze data in graphs. They also use the Internet to research earthquakes
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get Ready to Rumble

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars use the Internet to examine earthquakes. They discover the theory of tectonic plates and analyze faults throughout the world. They also examine the science of seismology to explain how earthquakes are measured.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model of a Normal Fault

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students understand what a normal fault is and why it causes an Earthquake.  In this normal fault lesson, students create a model of a normal fault. 
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Earth Shaking Events

For Teachers 6th Standards
The world's largest measured earthquake happened in 1960 in Chile, reaching a terrifying 9.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale. The second lesson in the 20-part series introduces earthquakes and fault lines. Scholars map where previous...
Activity
DiscoverE

Shake It Up with Seismographs

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Shake up your lessons on earthquakes. A simple seismograph lets scholars record "earthquakes" in the classroom. These earthquakes occur when classmates drop balls from different heights. Young scientists measure these with seismographs...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measure for Measure

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young mathematicians work to recognize the relationship between their scale models of the Joides research vessel and the real vessel. They calculate the relationships between various parts of the ship using fractions, ratios, and...
Activity
DiscoverE

Bridges, Buildings and Beyond Activity Packet: Grades 6-8

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pour a solid foundation of engineering into the minds of future engineers. Scholars take part in three activities to learn about civil engineering. They build a model of a cable-stayed bridge, conduct an experiment to see the effects of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Waves: A Study of Earthquakes and Tsunami

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine plate tectonics and the causative effect of earthquakes.  In this tectonics lesson plan students differentiate between the types of energy waves that cause earthquakes and tsunamis and how waves travel at different...
Interactive
PhET

Wave on a String

For Students 6th - Higher Ed Standards
The sound waves of thunder are made when lightning very quickly heats the air surrounding it, expanding faster than the speed of sound. Learners explore waves through their own movement of string or set waves to constantly oscillate....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Plotting

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students become familiar with map coordinates. They establish the frequency of earthquake occurrences and study the location and magnitude of earthquakes. To establish the location of plate boundaries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnitude vs Intensity

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students use a zipcode map to locate earthquake experiences based on the Modified Mercalli Scale. They discuss the difference of the magnitude of an earthquake compared to the intensity of the shaking it causes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake on the Playground

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate earthquakes by examining chart data.   In this disasters lesson, students identify the waves that are recorded when an earthquake arises by reading sample graphs in class.  Students participate in an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Machine

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore plate tectonics by conducting a class experiment. In this earthquake lesson, students utilize scrap wood, sandpaper, rubber bands and a sanding belt to create a model earthquake experiment which shakes a nearby building....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seismology in the Classroom

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together to use a sample seismograph. They role play the position of an engineering firm that is to analyze the machine. They discover how engineers develop new machines to take measurements.
Interactive
Curated OER

Seismic Waves

For Students 6th - 10th
In this seismic waves worksheet, students read and study the science of earthquakes using online resources to complete 8 short answer questions.