Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Earthquakes and Seismic Waves Lesson PlanEarthquakes and Seismic Waves Lesson Plan
Publisher
Curated OER
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Lesson Plan

Earthquakes and Seismic Waves

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Students explore earthquakes and seismic waves. They investigate how energy is released in the subsurface to create seismic waves. Students explore the inner workings of a seismograph and how they are used to determine the location of an earthquake.

78 Views 117 Downloads
Concepts

earthquakes, seismographs

Additional Tags

earthquakes, seismograph, science
Show More Show Less

Resource Details

Grade
4th - 9th
Subjects
Science
2 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Instructional Strategy
Inquiry-Based Learning
Usage Permissions
Fine Print

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Wave Watching

Science Matters
Seismologists use the direction and arrival times of p waves and s waves to determine the distance to the source of an earthquake. The engaging lesson has students line up to form human waves. Through different movements when attached,...
6th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

The Mohorovicic Seismic Discontinuity, Cosmology and Astronomy

Khan Academy
The phenomena observed in the behavior of waves and data received from seismographs can lead us to various conclusions about the densities of material waves passing through.
6 mins 8th - 9th Science
Instructional Video

Seismic Waves, Earth Geological and Climatic History, Cosmology and Astronomy

Khan Academy
Use a video on seismic waves to explain the differences between S and P waves, as well as the details that they provide about the composition of the rock.
9 mins 8th Science
Instructional Video

Refraction of Seismic Waves, Cosmology & Astronomy

Khan Academy
Mr. Khan uses the metaphor of a car to help explain the change in the direction of waves as they hit a boundary between two mediums. He then goes on to explain the relationship between the earth's structure and density and the waves'...
9 mins 8th - 9th Science
Lesson Plan

Seismic Waves

Curated OER
Young scholars 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...
9th - 12th Science
Lesson Plan

Earthquakes and Tectonic Plates

California Academy of Science
Here is a comprehensive package in which middle schoolers learn about types of seismic waves, triangulation, and tectonic plate boundaries. Complete vocabulary, colorful maps, and a worksheet are included via links on the webpage. You...
6th - 7th Science
Handout

Michigan Technological University: Up Seis: Seismology and Seismic Waves

Michigan Technological University
Definitions and descriptions of a variety of seismic waves such as S, P, Love, and Rayleigh waves, as well as diagrams and speeds.
9th - 10th Science
Unit Plan

Ga Virtual Learning: Earthquakes and the Earth's Interior

Georgia Department of Education
In this interactive tutorial you will learn about earthquakes and seismic waves. Learn about why and how these form and also discuss the hazards - direct and indirect - posed by earthquakes. You will then learn how our knowledge of...
9th - 10th Science
Activity

Science Buddies: How Fast Do Seismic Waves Travel?

Science Buddies
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...
6th - 8th Science
Interactive

Study Jams! Earthquakes

Scholastic
Have a seismic moment with your class as you show this animated video on earthquakes. Viewers find that quakes occur on faults and are caused by shifting of continental plates. They learn what properties are studied by seismologists and...
4 mins 5th - 9th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use