Changing Earth Mini-Project Table of Contents
Reading Comprehension Questions
page 1
Creative Product 1
______________________________ page 4
Creative Product 2
_____________________________
Creative Product 3
______________________________ page 6
Creative Product 4
_____________________________
page 5
page 7
Choices for Creative Products (YOU MUST CHOOSE 4):
Develop your own scale for measuring earthquakes – use “Think Like a
Scientist” and “Measuring Earthquake Energy” articles for reference
Write a fiction story about digging through the center of the Earth – use
“Beneath the Earth” article for reference
Create a comic strip (at least 6 panels) about continental drift – use
“Continents on the Move” article for reference
Draw a picture of a volcano erupting, including lava, rock fragments, ash, and
gases – use “Volcanoes Create New Land” article for reference
Create a poster about volcano safety – use “Don’t Stand Near an Erupting
Volcano” article for reference
Draw your own cave art picture – use “Cave Art Tells Ancient Stories” article
for reference
Fill in your choices on the table of contents above. Put each creative
product on a separate page of this booklet.
Also, decorate the cover of this booklet. Be sure to include your name and
core.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Think Like a Scientist
1. What type of scientists study earthquakes?
2. What tool do they use?
3. How many seismographs are around the world?
4. How does the Mercalli scale measure earthquake intensity?
5. What would a level V earthquake on the Mercalli scale be like?
6. How does the Richter scale measure earthquake intensity?
7. What would a 2.0 earthquake on the Richter scale be like?
Beneath the Earth
8. How deep is the core of the Earth?
9. What two metals is the core made of?
10. What is the mantle made of?
11. What is the only layer of Earth that can have life on it?
12. How thick is continental crust?
13. How thick is oceanic crust?
14. Which type of crust is there more of on Earth?
15. What changes happen on Earth’s surface?
Continents on the Move
16. How many large tectonic plates are on Earth?
17. About how fast do they move?
18. Name one example of continents that seem like they could fit
together.
19. According to the theory, how long ago were the continents joined?
20. What is the name for the large landmass where all continents were
joined?
21. What type of scientists study fossils?
22. Why can’t the theory be proven?
Volcanoes Create New Land
23. What causes volcanic eruptions?
24. What is the term for magma that has erupted and begins to cool?
25. What type of rock does lava become when it hardens?
26. Where are most volcanoes located?
27. Are all of the volcanoes in Hawaii still active?
28. What can travel thousands of miles from the volcano?
29. How do volcanoes help ecosystems?
Earthquakes Rattle the Earth
30. What are the connections between tectonic plates called?
31. What causes earthquakes?
32. What is the epicenter of an earthquake?
33. Where would you most likely experience earthquakes?
Measuring Earthquake Energy
34. When did Charles Richter create his earthquake magnitude scale?
35. How many levels does it have?
36. What is the smallest earthquake that humans would notice?
37. What level of earthquake is most common?
38. What level of earthquake is least common (but does occur)?
39. What level of earthquake has never occurred?
Scientists are People Too
40. What events cause seismic waves?
41. Who invented the seismograph in 1880?
42. What part of the seismic wave is measured by a seismograph?
43. What was Richter’s profession?
44. Why was the Mercalli scale not very accurate?
45. Why did Richter and Gutenberg want to create a new earthquake
scale?
46. How did Richter help earthquake-prone areas?
Don’t Stand Near an Erupting Volcano
47. What is the main health risk from volcanic eruptions?
48. How does ash affect your respiratory system?
49. How does ash affect your eyes?
50. What types of gases are in volcanic eruptions?
51. How can you avoid breathing in ash and gases from a volcano?
Cave Art Tells Ancient Stories
52. Where are the caves in this article located?
53. How old is the art on the walls?
54. What types of things were painted in the cave art?
55. Where did these people get their paints from?
56. What tools did they use for painting?
57. What were the main colors they used?
58. What are spelunkers?
59. What could have been the reason for making the cave art?