Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Living Lab: P Waves, S Waves and More

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn what causes earthquakes, how we measure and locate them, and their effects and consequences.
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Earthquake on the Playground

For Students 9th - 10th
In this experiment, students go outside and create a simulation of P and S waves traveling across a 30-meter span. This is repeated using a 30-meter square. They experiment with P and S wave behavior, record results, and use...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Earth Science Earthquakes

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about earthquakes. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Earthquake Characteristics

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Presents an overview of earthquakes.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Earthquake Characteristics

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Presents an overview of earthquakes.
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Earthquake Characteristics Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
This comprehensive study guide covers the main terms and concepts needed for an earth science unit on the characteristics of earthquakes. Review questions are included at the bottom of the study guide.
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.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Place: What Is an Earthquake?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Discover why earthquakes happen, how we measure them, and why they only happen on Earth.
Lesson Plan
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Earthquakes, Like Ripples on Water?

For Students 9th - 10th
In this activity, students investigate the classic Earth science analogy, "Seismic waves radiate outward from an earthquake's epicenter like ripples on water."
Handout
Purdue University

Purdue University: San Francisco Bay Area Earthquakes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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.
Interactive
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Pacific Northwest Earthquake Locations: Flash

For Students 9th - 10th
The Pacific Northwest is host to three kinds of earthquakes revealed in this interactive.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: An Earthquake Lab for Physical Geology

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
Handout
Michigan Technological University

Michigan Tech University: Where Do Earthquakes Happen?

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Interactive
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: Search Earthquake Catalog

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this interactive map to find out about earthquakes which have happened around the world since about 1970.
Handout
Science4Fun

Science4 Fun: Earthquake

For Students K - 1st
Information about earthquakes including causes and how they are measured.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: The 2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Build an Earthquake City

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students learn about earthquakes and how they effect structures. Student then apply their knowledge by trying to build an earthquake resistant city.
Handout
California Institute of Technology

Cal Tech: The Great 1857 Fort Tejon Earthquake

For Students 9th - 10th
Basic information about the 1857 "Fort Tejon" Earthquake, along with comparison to other quakes, location of the epicenter, and faults involved.
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...
Handout
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: How Are Earthquakes Located?

For Students 9th - 10th
This illustrated fact sheet shows how S and P waves each travel at varying speeds and therefore arrive at seismic stations at different times.
Handout
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: Rock'n on Shakey Ground [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
The basics of earthquake science including factual information about how and why they happen. Also includes some hands-on activities and experiments for students.
Website
Other

Vibrationdata: Alaska Earthquake 1964

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Handout
Michigan Technological University

How Do I Read a Seismogram?

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Handout
University of California

U. Of California Berkeley: Can You Read a Quake?

For Students 9th - 10th
Eight seismograms and instructions are provided to assist in the learning of how to locate the epicenter of an earthquake.