+
Worksheet
Curated OER

How Big was that Quake?

For Students 6th - 10th
For this earthquake worksheet, students determine the magnitude of an earthquake based on the seismogram reading. This worksheet has 5 problems to solve.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Virtual Earthquake

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students visit a website that features online interactive geology and biology simulations. They observe and estimate the amplitude of the largest wave and transfer the information to a nomogram. Based on the nomogram students will...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes Rock!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the main methods to measure earthquakes; the Richter Scale and Mercalli Scale. They make a model of a seismograph and investigate which structural designs are most likely to survive an earthquake.
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Earthquakes and Volcanoes

For Students 10th
In this geology worksheet, 10th graders locate thirty-six terms about earthquakes and volcanoes in a word search. Answers to the word search are available in various formats.
+
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: 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
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Seismology in the Classroom

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about seismology by using a sample seismograph constructed out of common classroom materials. The seismograph creates a seismogram based on vibrations caused by moving a ruler. The students work in groups to represent an...
+
Website
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey:the Great M9.2 Alaska Earthquake of March 27, 1964

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the earthquake in Prince William Sound, Alaska in 1964. Links to isoseismal map, earthquake damage photos, and seismogram of the earthquake.
+
Handout
Michigan Technological University

Michigan Tech: Locating an Earthquake's Epicenter

For Students 9th - 10th
Gives directions on how to find the epicenter of an earthquake, the distance to the epicenter and the magnitude of the earthquake.
+
Handout
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: Earthquake Center: Glossary

For Students 3rd - 8th
This resource provides definitions of important earthquake related terms.
+
Website
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: Earthquakes

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about earthquakes, including how they are measured.
+
Website
Other

Ncedc: Make Your Own Seismogram

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from NCEDC gives you an opportunity to "make your own seismogram" by choosing from a number of options on the screen.
+
Handout
Other

Nevada Seismological Laboratory: Seismic Waves

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource describes the two different types of seismic waves and how they travel through the earth, offers diagrams of the waves, their speeds, and how seismograms are used to locate earthquakes.
+
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Take the Pulse of Your Classroom

For Students 6th - 9th
In this activity, students leverage SeisMac technology to understand how a seismometer records ground motions.
+
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Earthquakes Rock!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn the two main methods to measure earthquakes, the Richter Scale and the Mercalli Scale. They make a model of a seismograph - a measuring device that records an earthquake on a seismogram. Students also investigate which...
+
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Measuring Earthquake Magnitude

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Covers the instruments scientists use to measure earthquake magnitude.
+
Website
US Geological Survey

U.s. Geological Survey: The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

For Students 9th - 10th
General information about the San Francisco earthquake, as well as some information about how studying that earthquake helped scientists in learning more about when and where earthquakes will occur.
+
Handout
Other

University of Wisconsin Green Bay: Faults and Earthquakes

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is primarily set up as an outline and is loaded with graphs, maps, and images. It covers a variety of earthquake-related topics, such as what causes earthquakes, fault lines and structures, seismology, a historical look at...
+
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Measuring Earthquake Magnitude Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of measuring earthquake magnitude.
+
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.
+
Handout
Michigan Technological University

How Are Earthquake Magnitudes Measured?

For Students 9th - 10th
This website explains how the Richter and Mercalli Scales work.