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Earthquakes
All About
Earthquakes
by Beverly Hernandez
What Is an Earthquake?
An
earthquake is a natural disaster that is caused by the shift of the ground
along the Earth's tectonic plates.
As the plates push and shift
against each other, energy is released causing the ground above the plates to
tremble and shake.
Although earthquakes can be devastating, they are also fascinating to study
from a scientific standpoint.
They're
also very eerie to experience.
I've only experienced one
small earthquake in my lifetime, but I immediately knew what it was.
If you've ever felt an
earthquake, you probably remember the distinct rolling feeling that only an
earthquake can create.
Learning About Earthquakes
As
you and your students begin learning about this natural phenomenon, it's
helpful to first get a good understanding of what an earthquake is and how
earthquakes work.
Use the Internet to do some
research or check out books and documentaries from your local library. You
might try some of the following books:
· National Geographic Kids Everything Volcanoes and Earthquakes by Kathy Furgang features dramatic photos and fascinating facts
about earthquakes and volcanoes. This book helps kids get a good basic
understanding of plate tectonics.
· Earthquakes by Seymour Simon uses
full-color photos, diagrams, and maps to explain what earthquakes are and why
they happen.
· The Magic Tree House: Earthquakes in the Early Morning by Mary Pope Osborne is a wonderful fiction book to include if
you're learning about earthquakes with young children. It puts Jack and Annie
right in the middle of the action of the famous 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Earthquakes are measured by their magnitude, which isn't as easy
as it may sound.
There are many complex
factors that go into accurately measuring an earthquake.
The intensity of an
earthquake is measured using a tool called a seismograph.
Most
of us are familiar with the Richter Magnitude Scale, even if we don't
understand the mathematical computations behind it.
Your students may already
understand that a moderate earthquake is somewhere around a 5 on the Richter
scale, while a 6 or 7 is a much more intense event.
Resources for Learning About Earthquakes
In
addition to books and documentaries, try some of the following resources to
learn more about earthquakes with your students.
Download a free set of earthquake printable pages to learn
about earthquakes and the terminology associated with them.
Learn about what do do if you
experience an earthquake and how to make sure your family is ready.
Couple
the printables with this guide from the Red Cross, Are You Ready for an Earthquake? It teaches the
steps to take to prepare for an earthquake.
Play
the game Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker. This activity lets
students manipulate tectonic plates. They can pull the plates apart and push
them together and watch what happens to the Earth.
Try
some of these online games and activities:
·
Cool Earthquake Facts - Read these cool
earthquake facts from USGS.
·
Earthquake ABC - This online book
presents a child's view of earthquake facts and the feelings that one may
experience during such an event. There is also a parent's guide that goes into
much more detail to help you further explain the terminology to your children.
·
Earthquake Glossary - Understand more
about earthquakes by learning the earthquake terms associated with them.
·
Life
Along the Faultline - What is a fault line and what's it
like to live along one? Explore the graphics and activities to find out.
·
Candy Quakes - Using a candy bar, gum,
and Twizzlers, students will demonstrate the effects of deformational forces on
the earth's crust.
·
Did
You Feel It? - Select a region tab, then an earthquake from the
list to view the map or submit a report.
·
Earthquake Preparedness Coloring Page -
If you're indoors during an earthquake, drop, cover and hold on.
Earthquakes
and volcanoes often go hand in hand. The majority of each are located
along the Earth's tectonic plates.
The Ring
of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped area of the Pacific Ocean known for a great
deal of volcanic activity and earthquakes. While earthquakes can occur
anywhere, approximately 80% of them occur in this area.
Because
the two are closely related, you may also want to learn more about volcanoes
with your students.
Updated by Kris Bales
Beverly Hernandez
· Former administrator of a large independent study program
· Former owner and operator of a bookstore for homeschoolers
Experience
Beverly Hernandez is a former writer for
ThoughtCo who contributed articles on homeschooling for over 12 years. She is a
veteran homeschooler who taught her own children from preschool through high
school. Hernandez was formerly the administrator of a large independent study
program and the owner and operator of a bookstore for homeschoolers.
Education
Hernandez is a graduate of Excelsior High
School. She studied at Cerritos College and has attended numerous homeschool
training seminars and conventions.
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