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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do Earthquakes Affect Buildings?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students simulate earthquakes utilizing an online program, and examine the earthquake-proofing construction for their building. They chart and analyze their simulated data using
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Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Earthquake Building/Shaking Contest

For Teachers 6th Standards
Japan is one of only a handful of countries that constructs buildings that are almost earthquake proof. The 13th lesson plan in the 20-part series challenges scholars to build structures to test against earthquakes. With limited...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the effects of earthquakes. In this earth science lesson, students create earthquake models and earthquake-proof buildings. They construct their own seismograph.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constructing Earthquake-Proof Buildings

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine different materials and design options that can affect the durability of a building.  In this investigative lesson students conduct several earthquake experiments. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build an Earthquake-Proof Structure

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders create straw structures and experiment to see how they would withstand an earthquake.  In this Earthquake lesson, 6th graders use increasing vibrations and record the effects on their straw structures.  Students discuss...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Proof Structures

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders build a structure that is able to withstand a simulated earthquake. They research earthquakes, earthquake measurement, and society's preparation for and reaction to them. Pupils build models and present them to the...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Earthquake Lesson Plans

For Teachers 4th - 6th
With earthquakes a regular occurrence all over the world, including a recent one in Haiti, students can learn about these phenomena.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake in the Classroom

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover how engineers construct buildings to stand up against earthquakes. They build their own structures out of marshmallows and toothpicks. They test how earthquake-proof their building is with jello.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep on Standing!!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students conduct research on the Internet about earthquakes and buildings that have withstood them. They suggest designs for future buildings. They create models of their suggested designs. Their models are tested in an earthquake...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners examine why earthquakes happen, and where most earthquakes occur in the world. They discuss how engineers and architects try to construct stronger buildings, then design and build an earthquake-proof structure.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep on Standing!!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars construct an earthquake simulator and create building models to test. In this earthquake instructional activity, students use the Internet and a slinky to demonstrate P and S waves. They construct an earthquake simulator...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Killer Quake!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore earthquakes. They build and test models to see if they will withstand an earthquake. Students explain their reasons for constructing buildings in a particular manner.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonic Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the Earth's movements by completing worksheets. In this plate tectonics lesson plan, students define such natural disasters as volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and mudslides and discuss their connections to plate...
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PPT
Geographypods

Geography Pods: Earthquake Proof Buildings [Ppt]

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents examples of earthquake-proof buildings around the world, and designs and techniques that can be used. The last slide presents students with the task of designing an earthquake-proof building, including a description of how to...
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Lesson Plan
University of Wisconsin

Scien Count Ers: Earthquake Proof Buildings

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
This lesson plan looks at how the forces of an earthquake impact on buildings, and different ways to make buildings earthquake-proof. Includes student worksheet and tectonic plates map.
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Handout
Imagination Station

Imagination Station: Earthquake Proof Buildings

For Students 4th - 8th
This article discusses different techniques that engineers use to combat the lateral forces a building is subjected to during an earthquake. Includes two videos demonstrating some of the concepts.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Shake Proof Science: Engineering Earthquake Safe Structures [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Lesson covering earthquake basics and designing structures that can withstand earthquakes. Learners are tasked with building earthquake-proof structures using marshmallows, spaghetti, and the option of bamboo skewers. These are then...
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Lesson Plan
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Iris: Buildings and Earthquakes Which Stands? Which Falls? [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This is an excellent collection of background material, resource and video links, and lesson activities on earthquakes and methods for constructing buildings that will withstand an earthquake.
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Lesson Plan
Scientific American

Scientific American: Earthquake Proof Engineering for Skyscrapers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students construct a shake table, then build towers of different heights using Lego blocks, and test their stability on this platform. Next, they test towers with different sized bases, and towers made using different materials.
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Activity
Other

Jacaranda: Atlas of Discovery: Design an Earthquake Proof House [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 6th
A worksheet challenging students to build three models of houses using different materials, and test them to see if they can withstand the vibrations of a simulated earthquake.
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PPT
San Jose State University

San Jose State University: Buildings in Earthquakes [Ppt]

For Students 4th - 8th
Explains the physics of building movement during an earthquake through a discussion of force, mass, acceleration, frequency, and period. Then looks at the factors that affect a building's resilience versus the damage it could sustain.
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Interactive
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Buildings and Earthquakes

For Students 9th - 10th
Do you think you can build a house that can withstand the shaking from an earthquake? In this activity, students design and construct model building that will be tested on a shake table with a force sensor. Activity includes questions...
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Lesson Plan
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center

Ruth Patrick Science Education Center: Shaking It Up With Earthquake Engineering

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students will learn basic information about earthquakes and their impact. They then follow the engineering design process as they construct earthquake-resistant buildings using toothpicks and marshmallows. The buildings are tested using...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Earthquake Safe Structures

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How buildings can be made safer from earthquakes.