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Lesson Plan
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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Shake it up with Seismographs!

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Shake things up in your STEM or earth science classroom when you have small groups construct their own seismographs. A reading assignment on the history of seismographs, the Richter scale, and current technology sets the stage for the...
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Activity
PBS

Exploring Earthquakes: Earth Foldable

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Geology junkies will make a foldable that covers a lot of ground regarding Earth's internal structure, its position in the solar system, and an explanation for its seasons. Templates and a printable page of instructions are included....
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Website
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Loma Prieta, Bay Area, Earthquake 1989

For Students 9th - 10th
This outstanding multimedia site documents the earthquake and related events that took place on October 17, 1989 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Interactive
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: On the Road With the Faultline Project

For Students 9th - 10th
This outstanding multimedia website follows the San Andreas fault system up the California coast from San Diego to just north of San Francisco on the coast.
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Unit Plan
Burke Museum

Burke Museum: The Big One

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the introduction to the Burke Museum's online exhibit on earthquakes and natural disasters. This is part of the Burke Museum's collection of geology. Topics that are covered include an introduction to quakes, quake science, quake...
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Handout
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: The Earthquake at Lisbon, 1755

For Students 9th - 10th
This Fordham University article is written by Rev. Charles Davy a citizen of Lisbon when the city was hit by an earthquake measuring 8.75 on the richter scale. Discusses the devastation in detail.
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Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Severe Weather and Natural Disasters

For Students 3rd - 5th
Learn about severe weather and natural disasters through experiments, witness accounts, vocabulary, and much more.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: What's All That Shaking? Make Your Own Seismograph!

For Students 9th - 10th
If you live in an area where earthquakes happen, you might be especially interested in this science project. You'll learn how to build your own seismograph and how to use it to detect ground motion.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Locating an Earthquake Using a Global Seismic Network

For Students 9th - 10th
When an earthquake happens, how are scientists able to determine the original location of the quake? In this project, you'll use archived data from a global network of seismometers to find out for yourself. You will make your own...
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Lesson Plan
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Measuring the Earth's Core With Seismic Waves

For Teachers 9th - 10th
When an earthquake occurs, seismic shock waves travel out through the earth from the source of the event. The shock waves travel through the earth (body waves), or along the Earth's surface (surface waves), and can be recorded at remote...
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Graphic
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Seismic Monitor

For Students 9th - 10th
Poke around the world map to examine where there is earthquake activity.
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Website
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Plate Tectonics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A suite of lessons focusing on finding the fossil evidence for lithospheric plate tectonics. Inquiry-based exploration of plate tectonics evidence includes fossil distribution, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
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Website
University of Southern California

University of Southern California:tsunami Research Group

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a world map of locations of past tsunamis, some video/animations of tsunamis, and a list of additional links to related topics.
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Website
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Tsunami: An Interactive Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete, interactive learning activity covering the science of tsunamis, preparedness, research, and historical tsunamis. Excellent animations and real, historical recordings of survivors allow the learner to experience what happens...
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Website
Other

Hooper Virtual Paleontological Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a virtual tour to the Hooper Virtual Paleontological Museum. There are many virtual exhibits to visit through a series of links, including Mass Extinctions and Human Evolution. Very descriptive and fun tour!
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Handout
US Geological Survey

Usgs: The San Andreas Fault

For Students 9th - 10th
A great overall site that tells us about the San Andreas fault, where it is and what kind of movements have occurred. It then goes on to talk about earthquakes in general and their occurrences along fault lines.
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Unit Plan
US Geological Survey

Usgs: Earthquakes

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Geological Survey sponsors this site about the history of earthquakes in the United States as well as information about how earthquakes are detected and measured.
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Website
Ibis Communications

Eyewitness to History: The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

For Students 9th - 10th
This article offers moving eyewitness accounts of events and feelings of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
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Handout
Other

Csmm: The Military and the San Francisco Earthquake

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides comprehensive information on the role that the army and navy played in helping San Francisco during the earthquake. Links to many related pages.
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Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Earth Science: Plate Tectonics Ii: Plate Boundaries and Forces

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructional module focusing on plate tectonics. Discussion includes plates, plate boundaries, and driving forces. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links relating to the topic.
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Article
Youngzine

Youngzine: A Complex Earthquake Strikes New Zealand

For Students 9th - 10th
A strong earthquake and multiple aftershocks hit New Zealand early in November 2016.
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Article
BBC

Bbc Newsround: Silence Honours Victims of Japan Tsunami

For Students 2nd - 5th
Article reports on how the 2011 Japan tsunami is being remembered five years later.
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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...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Build an Earthquake City

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students learn about earthquakes and how they effect structures. Student then apply their knowledge by trying to build an earthquake resistant city.