What causes earthquakes? Second graders learn about stresses from plate movement with a set of hands-on activities. After tracing fault lines on a map with yarn, class members create a paper plate model of Earth to show its layers and how deep a drill can go.

Concepts

earth's inner core, the earth's outer core, the earth's layers, the earth's mantle, the san andreas fault, fault lines, faults, earthquakes

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Include these words in your word wall: earthquake, crust, fault, inner core, outer core, stress, and drill
• Lab explores faults in California; research local fault maps located in your area for a more concise and precise lesson

Classroom Considerations

• The second in a series of four lessons that make up a unit on the plate tectonics cycle
• Have learners refer to pages 5-6 in the student workbook for this portion
• Lesson assumes learners are familiar with kilometers

Pros

• A workbook for the entire unit is included below
• Engaging for readers of all levels

Cons

• May be too advanced for some second graders

Common Core

SL.2.1.a SL.2.2