Website
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: How Much Bigger?

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about the magnitude scale, and allows users to try to figure out the difference between earthquake sizes.
Handout
Other

Nevada Seismological Laboratory: Seismic Waves

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource describes the two different types of seismic waves and how they travel through the earth, offers diagrams of the waves, their speeds, and how seismograms are used to locate earthquakes.
Website
Other

Ncedc: Make Your Own Seismogram

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NCEDC gives you an opportunity to "make your own seismogram" by choosing from a number of options on the screen.
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Natural Disasters

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to our planet's structure and its dynamic system of natural forces through an examination of the natural hazards of earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis, floods and tornados, as well as avalanches, fires,...
Interactive
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: How Much Bigger..? Calculator

For Students 9th - 10th
A calculator to show the difference in magnitude between earthquakes. Understand that the Richter scale used to measure earthquakes is base-10 logarithmic scale.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Fast Do Seismic Waves Travel?

For Students 6th - 8th
Here's a geology project that uses historical seismograph data that you can collect from the comfort of your own computer. You'll use a web interface to a network of seismometers run by the Northern California Earthquake Data Center, at...
Graphic
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Exploring the Earth Using Seismology

For Students 9th - 10th
The paths of some seismic waves and the ground motion that resulted are shown in this poster.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Seismic Calendar

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate how often earthquakes of various magnitudes happen within specific geographic regions.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Magnitude of the Richter Scale

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity, students will learn about the Richter Scale for measuring earthquakes. The students will make a booklet with drawings that represent each rating of the Richter Scale.
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Try Engineering: Shake It Up With Seismographs

For Teachers 9th - 10th
During this lesson, students learn how seismographs work and how technology has impacted the world by helping save lives from earthquakes. They will work in teams to design, test, and evaluate the results of their own seismographs, then...
Lesson Plan
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: How Hard Does the Ground Shake During a Quake?

For Students 9th - 10th
This activity asks young scholars to demonstrate how hard they think the ground shakes during an earthquake.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Make Your Own Seismograph

For Students 3rd - 8th
A seismograph is a tool scientists use to record earthquakes and measure their strength. In this activity you will build your own seismograph using simple materials.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Seismometer

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Build an instrument for measuring movement to learn about how scientists measure the Earth's movement with a seismometer.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Being P Waves and S Waves

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this instructional activity students develop a good understanding of different kinds of seismic waves and their effects.
Lesson Plan
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Direct Hydrocarbon Indicators

For Students 9th - 10th
This video lecture and accompanying exercises allow students to define a DHI and how to identify them, describe how seismic data are used to determine reservoir rock and fluid properties, and list the processing and modeling steps used...
Handout
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: How Does a Seismometer Work?

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of the basic components of a seismometer and physical science principles behind its operation.