Read and Learn about Earthquakes

Understanding Earthquakes Unit Study (Homeschool Learning Network)

Earthquakes are frightening events of nature that have terrible aftereffects for mankind. How do earthquakes happen? What have been the major earthquakes in history, and how can we protect ourselves from them?

Includes a set of 9 lessons which include experiments.

Photo source: FEMA

Earthquakes.

Nicely written collection of resources for kids from FEMA for kids.

 

Earthquakes for Kids

 

Learning Links and Activities

Compiled by USGS

 

Earthquake Resources for Kids by Cyber Sleuth Kids, an internet search guide for the K-12 student.

 

PBS Savage Earth,Restless Planet

Articles including video and animations.

 

Faultline.

Nice resource from the Exploratorium includes information about the Great Quakes of California, Quake basics, photo, and links.

 

How Earthquakes Happen (BBC)

Animated and PDF version of material

 

Earthquakes (BBC):

Why do they happen?

Are they dangerous?

How often do they happen?

Have there been serious ones recently?

Why is it dangerous after a quake?

 

The Science of Earthquakes.

Nice article, informative but not too technical.

 

How Earthquakes Work from How Stuff Works

 

Journey to the Center of the Earth:

created by 100 5th grade students

 

Ever Wonder What Causes Earthquakes?

 

EarthScience Center, The: the USGS consulted on this interactive web-based learning module developed by Logal Software Co,; excellent learning tool for earthquake location, magnitude, distribution and forecasting, Plug-in required that works on PCs and MacOS9 only

 

Earthquake Facts for Kids

 

Earthquake Photo Collections

 

Natural Hazards Slide Show from NOAA

 

Fault Tours

 

Virtual Coursework: Earthquake

Earthquake Themed Literature

Earthquake ABC

The Shaky Vacation (fiction) (for young children)

The Tales of the Earthquake Survivors (news article)

Fluency

Select a short paragraph in the story or tafsir. Have student read it repeatedly several days to increase fluency. See TJ's Language Arts Reading Skills page if you are  unfamiliar with repeated reading.

With younger students, do paired reading with the English ayaat. You and student read, teacher letting the student read the words he/she knows or can sound out and teacher reads unknown, undecodable words.

Spelling/Vocabulary

• Earthquake Word Search
• Earthquake Crossword: online activity
• Kid Zone: games, puzzles
• Online Wordsearch Puzzles: interactive word search puzzles with earthquake-related words
• Plate Tectonics Activities: games, quiz
• Earthquake Vocabulary
• Earthquake Crossword Puzzle
• Earthquake Challenge
• Earthquake Alphabetizing Activity
• Earthquake Draw and Write

Younger students:

 

Choose vocabulary from the story according to the child's level. Discuss the meanings and write in sentences, if appropriate for child's age.  .See TJ's "Working With Words." section on the language arts page for more ideas to practice vocabulary or TJ's Spelling Page.

 

Older Students:

 

Have student look up and write the definition for selected words and use in sentences.

Also, see TJ's "Working With Words" section on the language arts reading page for more ideas to practice vocabulary.

 

You might use the following exercise, Writing Descriptive Sentences, with these words to have students write descriptive sentences

 

Give students vocabulary words and a passage (from the story above or tafsir) for dictation. Student should practice writing the passage each day. At the end of the unit, dictate the words and passage to student. 

 

 

Grammar

1. Using the text of the English translation, have students sort all words in the ayaat into categories of parts of speech. (nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, etc)

Sample worksheet (bible based)

2. Use the dictation passage that you have selected (mentioned in the vocabulary section above) and discuss grammar concepts found there.

3. Take the following verbs found in the tafsir and turn them into nouns.

to be added, insha Allah 

Composition

Assign a paragraph or report or other creative writing assignment related to elephants (see English section above for reading material) or the history of Yemen (see Geography section below for reading material).

Research Help and Tips:

kidcyber guide to Researching a topic

Chart for recording notes

Have students complete earthquake themed math problems or make up your own.

 

 

How much bigger is a magnitude 8.7 earthquake than a magnitude 5.8 earthquake? Compare magnitude and energy with "Try It Yourself" Calculator.

 

 

Geometry Problem of the Week: Earthquake theme

 

Earthquake Math from FEMA for Kids: (Go online to take quiz and get score)

 

A small earthquake hit Northern California on a Tuesday afternoon. It was felt by people in three cities: Los Manos (population 3,482), Mount Good (population 4,210) and Meganville (872). How many people felt the earthquake?
5,684 people
8,564 people
8,654 people
8,546 people


2. The news said that Bigburg also felt the quake. Its population is 2,998. Now how many people felt the quake?
11,562 people
10,690 people
10,989 people
7,773 people


3. Suppose that it takes two straps each 25 inches long to strap a water heater to the wall to keep it from falling over during an earthquake. There are 420 homes in Los Manos. If every single home in Los Manos strapped their water heater to the wall, how many inches of strap would it take?
1,200 inches
50 inches
420 inches
21,000 inches


4. If you convert those inches into feet, how many feet would it take?
12 feet
21,012 feet
1,750 feet
252,000 feet


5. Pretend that in the first earthquake 10 homes were slightly damaged; in the second 50 homes were slightly damaged and in the third earthquake 30 homes were slightly damaged. What is the average number of homes damaged in the earthquakes?
11
30
35
 

Earthquake Intensity Database Search or National Earthquake Information Center or SC Earthquake Data Center

The Earthquake Intensity Database is a collection of damage and felt reports for over 23,000 U.S. earthquakes. Use data to make up word problems or to make tables and graphs.

 

Set of Experiments from FEMA Kids. Nice for younger children

Experiment 1:

If you are outside during an earthquake, it's important to get away from buildings, overpasses and power lines. Try this experiment to see why

Experiment 2:

If you are inside during an earthquake, it's important to take cover under a heavy piece of furniture for protection. To see why, try this experiment.

Experiment 3:

One of the most important things to do before an earthquake is to strap down the hot water heater to keep it from spilling over or starting a fire during an earthquake. To demonstrate why that's important, try this experiment.

Earthquake Science Experiments and Project Ideas

Earthquake Science for Kids

"CUSEC has put together a list of websites, that offer earthquake information and projects geared towards kids.  These sites will give kids a better understanding of the hazard and the types of research that is involved in the scientific community.  Additionally, some of the sites show kids just what to do and expect in the event of an earthquake."

Make a Quake

Spaghetti Fault (simulation

Earthquake Slip Classroom Exercise

Ring of Fire. What it it?

Ring of Fire Diagram.

Ring of Fire - BBC News

Today In Earthquake History. Determine How long ago these quakes took place.

Latest Earthquakes

Earthquake themed Recipes

 

Tasty Quake Activity: http://www.fema.gov/kids/tastyeq.htm

Earthquake Cake

Earthquake Cake II

 

 Is your house earthquake safe? Go on a Home Hazards Hunt to see.

Is your family prepared for an earthquake? Learn what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.

Earthquake Preparedness

Tips for Preparing Children

Prepare a Home Earthquake Plan

Earthquake Duck, Cover, and Roll Drill

Emergency Supplies Checklist

Preparing Your Family for an Earthquake

 

Coloring Pages to Print: Earthquake-related coloring pages to print out and color

Online Coloring Pages: Interactively color earthquake-related pictures

Earthquake coloring page from Homeschooling.about.com