SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY
Loretto, Pa 15940
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
LESSON PLAN
Student Teacher:
Charles Hesbacker
Grade: 8th Earth Science
Date: 2011 03 29
Time: 45 minutes
Unit: Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Lesson Plan Title:
Earthquakes and Seismic Waves
PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMIC STANDARDS:
3.2.7. B. 1. Measure materials using a variety of scales
3.5.7. A. Describe earth features and processes.
3.5.7. A.2. Describe the processes involved in the creation of geologic features (e.g., folding, faulting, volcanism,
sedimentation) and that these processes seen today (e.g., erosion, weathering, crustal plate movement) are
similar to those in the past.
3.5.7. A.3. Describe the processes that formed Pennsylvania geologic structures and resources including
mountains, glacial formations, water gaps and ridges.
3.5.7. A .5. Distinguish between examples of rapid surface changes (e.g., landslides, earthquakes) and slow surface
changes
3.8.7. B. Explain how human ingenuity and technological resources satisfy specific human needs and improve the
quality of life.
STUDENT OBJECTIVES:
As a result of this lesson, the S.W.B.A.T.:
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Identify P waves, S waves, and L waves
Identify the scales used to measure the strength of an earthquake
Explain how scientists locate the epicenter of an earthquake
MATERIALS:
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Prentice Hall Earth Science Textbook
Promethean Board
VOCABULARY:
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Earthquake, focus, epicenter, P wave, S wave, surface wave
Magnitude, Seismograph, Richter Scale, Mercalli scale, Moment magnitude Scale
ANTICIPATORY SET
PRETEACH: Building Background Knowledge
o
o
What kinds of waves have you observed? (Most will answer ocean
waves and waves in a pond or lake.)
How do waves move in water? (Waves move outward from the center
where the stone hits the water.)
PROCEDURE
INSTRUCT:
Focus
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Teach
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Apply
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INSTRUCT:
Focus
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Teach
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Apply
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Teach Key Concepts: Types of Seismic Waves
Set up a row of dominoes and touch one at one end so that the domino strikes its
neighbor and all the dominoes fall. Explain that the energy is transferred from my hand to
the first domino, then to the second, and so on. This action is similar to the way that the
waves carry energy that is released when rocks move.
Seismic waves carry energy from an earthquake away from the focus, through the Earth’s
interior, and across the surface.
There are three categories of seismic waves:
o P waves
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The fastest category of seismic waves
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Compress and expand the ground like an accordion
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Travel through solids, liquids, and gases
o S waves
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Vibrate from side to side or up and down
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Travel through solids
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Cannot move through liquids
o Surface waves
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Slower than P and S waves
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Severe ground movements
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Shake buildings
Ask:
o How are seismic waves like the waves produced by a pebble thrown into a lake?
(Seismic waves also move outward in concentric rings.)
o How are they different? (Seismic waves move outwards in all directions whereas
water waves move only on the surface.)
Using an illustration of different Seismic waves, the students will differentiate between P
waves, S waves, and L waves.
Teach Key Concepts: Measuring Earthquakes
Most people have heard of the Richter scale. Ask the students to share what they know.
(Students may say that the higher the number, the more destructive the earthquake.)
Ask: How are the Mercalli scale, the Moment Magnitude scale, and the Richter scale
similar and different?
o All three describe the strength of the earthquake
o The Mercalli scale describes the earthquake’s strength in terms of damage.
o The Richter scale describes an earthquake’s strength in terms of the size of the
seismic waves.
o The Moment Magnitude Scale is a rating system that estimates the total energy
released by an earthquake.
Have the students classify the earthquake damage using the Mercalli scale.
o Many buildings are destroyed and cracks form in the ground
o Several old brick buildings and a bridge collapse
o Canned goods fall off shelves; walls crack; people go outside to see what is
happening
INSTRUCT:
Focus
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Teach
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Teach Key Concepts: Locating the Epicenter
Ask the students whether they have listened for thunder after seeing lighting. Why do you
hear thunder after you see lighting? Lightning travels faster than thunder. The same holds
true for P waves and S waves. This principle is used to find the location of an
earthquake’s epicenter.
Geologists draw three circles using data from different seismographs. A seismograph is
located in the center of each circle. The radius of each circle is the distance from the
seismograph to the epicenter. The point where the three circles intersect is the location of
the epicenter of the earthquake.
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Seatwork
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Review and Reinforce “Earthquake and Seismic Waves” worksheet
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Enrich “Comparing the Richter and Moment Magnitude Scales”
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Guided Reading and Study “Earthquakes and Seismic Waves
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Adapted Reading and Study “Earthquakes and Seismic Waves”
CLOSURE
CHECKING FOR UNDERSTANDING
Five minutes before the class ends, conduct a review using these questions:
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Types of Seismic Waves
o Reviewing: How does energy from an earthquake reach Earth’s surface?
o Describing: What kind of movement is produced by each of the three types of
o
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seismic waves?
Sequencing: When do P waves arrive at the surface in relation to S waves and
surface waves?
Measuring Earthquakes
o Defining: What is an earthquake’s magnitude?
o Describing: How is magnitude measured using the Richter scale.
o Applying Concepts: What are the advantages of using the Richter scale?
Locating the Epicenter
o Explaining: What type of data do geologists use to locate an earthquake’s
o
epicenter?
Interpreting maps: Study the map “Locating the Epicenter.” Describe the method
scientists use to determine the epicenter of an earthquake.
Homework
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Read pages 178-185
Finish worksheets if not finished in class and turn in tomorrow before
class.