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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 in the 20-part series challenges scholars to build structures to test against earthquakes. With limited materials and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars discuss the effects of earthquakes. For 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
Middle schoolers 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 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
Young scholars 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
Students 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 lesson, students use the Internet and a slinky to demonstrate P and S waves. They construct an earthquake simulator as a class and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build It With Lincoln Logs!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use primary sources to analyze advertisements, prices, and styles of Lincoln Logs from Carson Pirie Scott catalogs from 1952 to 1960. Students then compare modern-day toy to Lincoln Logs of the 1950s by analyzing differences in...
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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, students define such natural disasters as volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and mudslides and discuss their connections to plate tectonics....
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Lesson Plan
University of Wisconsin

Scien Count Ers: Earthquake Proof Buildings

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
This instructional activity 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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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. Young scholars are tasked with building earthquake-proof structures using marshmallows, spaghetti, and the option of bamboo skewers. These are...
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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
Learners 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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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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Lesson Plan
Museum of Science

Ei E: Shake Things Up: Engineering Journal [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A 34-page student journal of worksheets to accompany a lesson unit on designing buildings that will withstand an earthquake. [SEE: http://eie.org/sites/default/files/es_educator_guide_2014_10_09.pdf] First, they work on simple...
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Lesson Plan
Other

Tech Museum: Building for the Big One [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
This resource presents a project where students design and build structures that can withstand an earthquake. The project can include an extension where students look at the factors of soil type and proximity to fault in their design....
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Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Building an Earthquake Resistant Structure

For Teachers 4th
How can you use the engineering design process to build a structure that can stand up to an earthquake?
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Lesson Plan
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Ciese: Musical Plates: Designing an Earthquake Resistant Structure

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson where students look at how the sudden movement in an earthquake causes a building to collapse, and how to design a building that can withstand it.
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Lesson Plan
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology

Ciese: Musical Plates: Engineering Application: Keeping Afloat

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A instructional activity that looks at how to design a building so that it will withstand an earthquake and not sink or lean over.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Nova Teachers: The Day the Earth Shook: Classroom Activity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Challenge your students to design a building that will withstand an earthquake. Using materials like 3x5 cards and paperclips, students design three different buildings and test their effectiveness.