Handout
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: Earthquake Center: Glossary

For Students 3rd - 8th
This resource provides definitions of important earthquake related terms.
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Plix: Richter Scale Exponents: Scientific Notation

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Explore this interactive to see which earthquakes had the largest magnitude on the Richter Scale, then answer a challenge question.
Unit Plan
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Earthquake Faultline Earthquake Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
This outstanding website provides an excellent variety of hands-on earthquake activities to help you understand what causes earthquakes.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Scales That Represent Earthquake Magnitude

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Covers the scales scientists use to measure the size and intensity of earthquakes.
Handout
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: The Earthquake at Lisbon, 1755

For Students 9th - 10th
This Fordham University article is written by Rev. Charles Davy a citizen of Lisbon when the city was hit by an earthquake measuring 8.75 on the richter scale. Discusses the devastation in detail.
Lesson Plan
Other

Shake Proof Science: Engineering Earthquake Safe Structures [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Lesson covering earthquake basics and designing structures that can withstand earthquakes. Students are tasked with building earthquake-proof structures using marshmallows, spaghetti, and the option of bamboo skewers. These are then...
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Landforms, Rocks & Minerals: Earthquakes

For Students 3rd - 5th
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on earthquakes, how they form, how they are measured, and the ways they can change the surface of the Earth.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Living Lab: Epicenters and Magnitudes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn how engineers characterize earthquakes through seismic data. Acting as engineers, they use real-world seismograph data to locate earthquake epicenters via triangulation and determine earthquake magnitudes.
Unit Plan
Other

Dromore National School: Earthquake Project Questions

For Students 3rd - 8th
Read the questions students most often ask about earthquakes and read the answers.
Activity
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Virtual Earthquake

For Students 9th - 10th
An activity-based program designed to introduce the concepts of how an earthquake epicenter is located and how the Richter magnitude of an earthquake is determined.
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.
Website
The Field Museum

Field Museum: Exhibits: Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover the true powers of Mother Nature through this vivid collection of research which delves into the causes of natural disasters and the impacts on those affected.