Indiana Science Grade 8

Unit 4: Earth and the Solar System

Earthquake trivia

Project: History
Have students discover earthquake trivia as they research epicenter locations, greatest magnitude, most destructive, most deadly, and the first quake ever recorded. Using their research, have students design and present a time line of earthquake-related information to the class in an effort to predict any pattern or earthquake activity.

Introduction:
Earthquakes begin deep underground where the Earth's tectonic plates push and pull on each other. When the strain becomes too great, rock slips past rock at a fault line causing elastic limits to snap and seismic waves to surge in all directions. When the earth shakes, buildings collapse, gas and power lines break, fires erupt, landslides plunge downhill or into the ocean, and tsunamis may race toward shore as landscape, property, and lives are lost. Although most earthquakes cause little damage or loss of life, scientists estimate as many as 10,000 deaths occur annually worldwide due to earthquakes and their related disasters.

Task:
Investigate the destructive history of earthquakes in an attempt to predict earthquake occurrences. Complete a copy of the earthquake information chart with information from print and web resources. Display this information in a colorful, creative time line to present to your classmates.

Time:
2 class periods to collect information, 1 class period to design and construct the Earthquake Time Line, and 1 class period for class presentations.

Possible Resources:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/faq
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/faq/hist.html
http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/states/states.html
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthql/earthqukgip.html
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recent/recent.html

Data Collection:
List at least ten major earthquakes in the United States or the world, and complete the scientific information for each quake. In addition, explore your resources to find answers to the questions listed below.

Summary Chart of Earthquake Facts
 LocationDateMagnitudeEstimated Cost of Property DamageLives Lost
1     
2     
3     
4     
5     
6     
7     
8     
9     
10     
11     
12     

Earthquake Trivia:

  1. Where and when was the first earthquake recorded?
    _________________________________
  2. Where and when was the most recent earthquake?
    __________________________________
  3. Which states in the United States have the most earthquakes?
    _________________________
  4. Which states in the United States have the fewest earthquakes?
    ________________________
  5. Which continent has the fewest earthquakes?
    ______________________________________
  6. What area of the world has the most earthquakes?
    __________________________________
  7. Each state in the United States has an earthquake history. What was the largest magnitude of an earthquake in your state? Add this to your earthquake chart and complete all the information for your state's largest quake.

Product:
Using the data from your earthquake chart, create a unique and informative time line. Include at least ten earthquake locations with the completed information, as well as, facts about your own state's earthquakes.

Using the ideas and data from your research and other students' time lines, hypothesize whether scientists can predict earthquakes, or only monitor their effects. Be prepared to support your opinions in a class discussion.

Presentation Hints:

  • Use a ruler to measure the paper for the time line to make sure it is long enough.
  • Measure your timeline to accurately show the time scale with appropriate benchmarks.
  • Measure the paper to make sure there is enough room both above and below the time line to insert all the earthquake information from your chart in a clear, concise display.
  • Colorfully, label your time line-title, time scale, your name, and date.
  • Review the grading rubric to be sure you have information from each category.

Rubric:

Click here for a rubric to help you score this project. (65.0K)

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