My Science Box

In this box are an assortment of lessons to teach students about earthquakes and plate tectonics. As students progress through the unit, evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics accumulates. They begin by researching the 10 largest earthquakes over the last 30 years. This information is plotted on a world map along with information about the location of active volcanos and mid-ocean ridges.

Summary
Seismogram: Image created by Crickett.Using the excellent Virtual Courseware - Earthquake program , students learn how to read a seismogram and use them to triangulate the epicenter of an earthquake. This program leads students step by step through the entire process of measuring the epicenter and calculating the magnitude of an earthquake. There is also an assessment tool associated with the program so that you can monitor how well your students did on the review quiz at the end of the activity.

Time
45-50 minutes

Grouping
Individual or in pairs depending on the number of computers you have.

Materials

• Computers with internet access
• Copy of the Earthquake Fingerprints handout for each student

Setting
Computer lab

Teacher Background
P and S waves: Image courtesy of USGS.An earthquake has struck somewhere in California! Can you figure out where? If you learn to read a seismogram you can!

First some earthquake basics… (The following background information is provided in greater detail on the student handout.) There are faults (cracks in the Earth’s surface) that can suddenly move as pressure from the movement of the Earth’s crust builds up. This sudden movement is an earthquake.

Getting Ready

1. Reserve the computer lab.
2. Register your class on the Virtual Courseware site in order for the results of your students’ review quiz to be saved.
   • On the main page, click the “Assessment” button under “For Instructors”.
   • Read the information under the “Information” button then register your class using the “Register” button.
   • Remember the class code and your password since these are required for you to retrieve your class results later using the “Class Results” button.
3. Adapt the Earthquake Fingerprints handout so that the proper class code is entered on the second page near the bottom.
4. Make copies of the Earthquake Fingerprints handout.

Lesson Plan

1. Give students the student handout and allow them read the first page. Be prepared to answer questions, especially with unknown vocabulary.
2. Direct students to the Virtual Courseware - Earthquakes website (http://www.sciencecourseware.org/eec/Earthquake/).
3. Optional: have students complete the tutorials before proceeding to the 2 main activities. This will take 10-20 minutes extra.
4. Give students 40-45 minutes to work through the 2 activities and complete the quiz.
5. When students are finished, the teacher can check each person’s certificate of completion.

Going Further

1. Go on a field trip to the Lawrence Hall of Science and let their excellent educators teach your students all about using seismographs. Afterwards, let students explore the interactive exhibits in the Forces the Shape the Bay exhibition.
2. Try any one of the activities in the Earthquake! curriculum set, created by the Center for Science Education at the University of California, Berkeley. There are lesson plans for building your own seismograph, reading seismograms, locating epicenters, and using seismic clues to understand the interior of the Earth.
3. For a kinesthetic version of this activity, try Whose Fault is It? by Eric Muller of the Exploratorium Teachers’ Institute (download Whose Fault is It? from Eric’s website under Earth Science activities). Students link hands and transmit p and s waves through their bodies and use the timing delay to calculate the epicenter of the earthquake.
4. Listen to an earthquake! USGS has converted seismograms to sound files. Students can use them to reinforce seismology concepts such as how distance and magnitude affect a seismogram.

Sources
For information about earthquakes and seismology, see:

• The Science of Earthquakes, an article by Lisa Wald on the USGS website.
• G. H. Girty of San Diego State University has a comprehensive Flash based Geology 101 course including a good section Earthquakes. It is written for a college audience and includes practice exams which can easily be adapted for middle and high school students.
• The Tech Museum of Innovation has an online exhibit on the science of earthquakes.

Summary
San Francisco, 1906: Aftermath of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that caused an estimated 3,000 deaths and $524 million in damage.Students use the USGS World Earthquake Archive to research the major earthquakes in recorded history. Each student is given a range of dates and assembles a table of facts on 10 earthquakes within that time frame. Students present their research and plot the locations of their earthquakes on a large world map, thereby discovering distinct earthquake zones that define the boundaries of the earth’s plates (see the Plate Patterns activity for ways to elaborate on this idea).

Objectives
Can use the USGS Earthquake Archives to research information about historically important earthquakes around the world.
Can diagram and explain what causes earthquakes in general terms.
Can understand and use basic earthquake terminology (fault, epicenter, magnitude, etc.)
Can use latitude and longitude information to plot locations on a world map.

Vocabulary
fault
earthquake
epicenter
magnitude
seismogram
latitude
longitude
tectonic plate

Time
5-10 min earthquake demo
35-45 min computer research
45-50 min present research, plot on large map, look for patterns

Grouping
Individual

Materials

• 2 pieces of Plexiglas
• scotch tape
• Optional: Monopoly houses and game pieces
• Computers with internet access
• Copy of “The Big One” handout for each student
• Copy of the “Big Quake Dates” sheet, cut into strips with one time period on each strip
• Large world map, preferably laminated or coated so that removable sticky dots can be easily applied then removed after the activity.
• 1 package 1/4” to 1/2” removable color dots (available in most stationary stores and drug stores for labeling maps and documents, each package usually contains 4 colors of dots: red, yellow, green and blue)