Read Works
Read Works: Earth Science Earthquakes
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about earthquakes. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
NASA
Nasa Space Place: What Is an Earthquake?
Discover why earthquakes happen, how we measure them, and why they only happen on Earth.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Locating the Epicenter of an Earthquake
When an earthquake happens, how are scientists able to determine the original location of the quake? In this project, you'll use archived data from a network of seismometers to find out for yourself. You'll create your own seismograms...
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Nagt.org: A Kinesthetic Demonstration for Locating Earthquake Epicenters
A kinesthetic activity for students to understand the technique for locating the epicenter of an earthquake. It is performed indoors and outdoors in three lessons.
Other
University of Wisconsin Green Bay: Faults and Earthquakes
This site is primarily set up as an outline and is loaded with graphs, maps, and images. It covers a variety of earthquake-related topics, such as what causes earthquakes, fault lines and structures, seismology, a historical look at...
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Walk Run: Locating an Earthquake Using Triangulation
Roll over the seismic stations to see earthquake epicenters triangulated. Touch buttons to watch movies of seismic waves.
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Pacific Northwest Earthquake Locations: Flash
The Pacific Northwest is host to three kinds of earthquakes revealed in this interactive.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: An Earthquake Lab for Physical Geology
This article from the Journal of Geological Education describes an activity in which students locate the epicenter of several earthquakes, plot the trends of the two faults involved, and determine the sense of motion along the plane of...
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Tech University: Where Do Earthquakes Happen?
An informative site that explains how and where earthquakes occur and the different types of faults. Contains maps and charts of fault lines, plate edges, and the continental plates. There are other links within the site of related...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Living Lab: Epicenters and Magnitudes
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.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The 2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami
Using real seismic recordings from a number of seismic stations, students find the location of the epicenter of the 2004 Sumatra earthquake. They next determine the path of the tsunami triggered by it, and calculate how much lead time...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Build an Earthquake City
Students learn about earthquakes and how they effect structures. Student then apply their knowledge by trying to build an earthquake resistant city.
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: Rock'n on Shakey Ground [Pdf]
The basics of earthquake science including factual information about how and why they happen. Also includes some hands-on activities and experiments for students.
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: Search Earthquake Catalog
Use this interactive map to find out about earthquakes which have happened around the world since about 1970.
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Earthquake
Information about earthquakes including causes and how they are measured.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Virtual Earthquake
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.
Purdue University
Purdue University: San Francisco Bay Area Earthquakes
Students use geologic fault maps of the San Francisco Bay Area to find relationships between tectonic plate fault lines and landscape features, topographic features, and epicenters of past earthquakes.
California Institute of Technology
Cal Tech: The Great 1857 Fort Tejon Earthquake
Basic information about the 1857 "Fort Tejon" Earthquake, along with comparison to other quakes, location of the epicenter, and faults involved.
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Earthquakes, Like Ripples on Water?
In this activity, students investigate the classic Earth science analogy, "Seismic waves radiate outward from an earthquake's epicenter like ripples on water."
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: How Are Earthquakes Located?
This illustrated fact sheet shows how S and P waves each travel at varying speeds and therefore arrive at seismic stations at different times.
Other
Vibrationdata: Alaska Earthquake 1964
Time, date, and size of the Alaskan 1964 earthquake. Photos of the damage caused by the quake and the tsunami, location of the epicenter, and a description of the landslides.
Michigan Technological University
How Do I Read a Seismogram?
When you look at a seismogram, there will be wiggly lines all across it. So which wiggles are the earthquake? This site answers this question.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Earthquake Waves and Their Destructions
Looking for the epicenter of an earthquake and measuring the magnitude of waves are goals for learners in this lesson plan for intermediate to middle school students. Learners get to analyze the P and S waves.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: How Fast Do Seismic Waves Travel?
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...