earthquake data teacher copy
Earthquake worksheet
https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/the_earthquake.aspx
John Muir Writings
physical_map_of_north_america
Plate Tectonics Video
Tectonic Plates
Earthquake Hazards in America: 4th Grade
Overview
This lesson examines where Earthqakes happen and introduces Tectonic Plates. Students will examine the data and draw their own conclusions about the link between earthquakes and plate movement.
Reading
Objectives: Fourth grade students will examine data about earthquakes in order to understand how they are connected to plate tectonics. The classroom’s smart board and Ladybug system will be utilized.
|
Anticipatory Set or Focus: Discuss with the group their pre-conceived ideas about earthquakes.
|
Body of the Lesson Phase One: Determine in which states earthquakes happen. Students will work as a group to determine the frequency of earthquakes in each state. They will be given a set of data, guiding questions, and colorable maps of the United States. Students will be encouraged to use the data to identify the top ten states for earthquakes. They will be guided to consider the mountain ranges in the states identified. Phase Two: Plate Tectonics Students will watch a short video about plate tectonics. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbbwaAIMvvs) After viewing, we will discuss how the information in the video relates to what they learned coloring their maps. I will guide the discussion towards the causation factors. (For example: “What do mountain ranges have to do with earthquakes?”) I will guide the students to understand that earthquakes often happen along the boundaries between continents and oceans. We will discuss how plate tectonics cause not only earthquakes, but also mountain ranges.
|
Closure We will come back together as a class and talk about what data surprised them and what they learned. I will have monitored their progress to make sure they were on the right track and not misinterpreting the data. We will wrap up the lesson by reinforcing the idea that earthquakes often happen at the plate boundary. We will clarify what happens at plate boundaries (mountain ranges, earthquakes, etc).
|
Extensions: This topic could easily be expanded into multiple days. We could do a hands-on activity about tectonic plates using cardboard to model the convergent, divergent and transform types of boundaries. We could do another day studying earthquakes, including watching footage and analyzing the risks earthquakes can pose. As well, the study of plate boundaries could be expanded to the world or to the minor plates in the United States as well as the major ones. Another day (or two) could be spend studying Continental Drift and Pangea. This lesson lends itself to multiple interdisciplinary applications. To tie in with math, the students could perform the statistical analysis to create the data chart themselves. To tie in with social studies, they could complete this lesson while studying the geography of the United States. To tie in with English, the students could read literature about natural disasters, such as Edwidge Danticat’s novel “Eight Days: A Story of Haiti” about a boy trapped for eight days following an earthquake. |
|
Evaluation Strategy: Evaluation will be final grading of the worksheet and class participation. Later in the unit, there will be a quiz containing questions about this lesson. |
Resources: Blank maps of the US Topographic map of the US Tectonic plate map of the US Data chart on earthquake frequency Colored Pencils, crayons or markers Smart Board or other method of showing video |
ReferencesKing, H. M. (2019). Plate Tectonics Map. Retrieved from Geology.com: https://geology.com/plate-tectonics.shtml National Map. (2014). Retrieved from USGS.gov: https://nationalmap.gov/small_scale/printable/climatemap.html#list New Earthquake Hazards Program. (n.d.). Retrieved from USGS.gov: https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/lists-maps-and-statistics Physical map of North America. (n.d.). Retrieved from Vidiani.com: http://www.vidiani.com/physical-map-of-north-america/ Techtonic Plates and Earthquakes. (2017, October 12). Retrieved from Pixeldust Studios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbbwaAIMvvs
|
Slide Presentation about Earthquakes
John Muir Reading : https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/the_earthquake.aspx
Slide Presentation about Earthquakes