Name:
Period:
Earthquake Assessment
Activity
1.)
USGS.gov
2.)
Chapter 5
Notes
3.)
Quick Lab
4.)
Due Date
At home – due
6/5
In class on
Thursday 6/5
MUST BE DONE
IN SCHOOL ON
__6/5___
Earthquake At home – due
Research
6/6
Possible Points
10
10
5
15
5.)
Earthquake In class on
Map
Thursday 6/5
5
6.)
Earthquake In class on
Safe
Friday 6/6
Building
15
7.)
Shake
Table
10
8.)
RAFT
Writing
Prompt
Conclusion
9.)
Total
MUST BE DONE
IN SCHOOL ON
___6/9__
In class on
Friday 6/6
In class on
Friday 6/6
20
10
100
Earned Points
Activity #1 – USGS.GOV – 10 points
Did you know that the Earth can feel stress? It’s not the same stress you might feel because
you have too much homework or a test tomorrow, but instead it’s the kind of stress caused by
movements in the deep layers of the Earth While you may relieve your stress by going for a
run or playing video games, when the Earth releases its stress, an earthquake occurs. Every
day, there is a 100% chance that an earthquake will hit somewhere in the world. It may be so
small that it can only be detected by sensitive equipment, or it may be large enough to cause
major damage. You can see the images on the news when a destructive earthquake hits, but
what happens after the quake?
Go to the US Geological Survey website at www.usgs.gov and click on Real-Time Earthquakes:
Worldwide and the United States. Using these maps:
1. Find the number of earthquakes that have occurred in your community. (1 pt)
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2. Then, identify which areas in the world had the most activity. (1 pt)
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3. Compare your location to the locations with the most activity. Make a hypothesis
(educated guess) and explain why you think certain areas had more activity. (1 pt)
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This combined map and bar
graph shows the probability
of earthquakes in different
areas along the San Andreas
Fault. Probability is a
measure of how likely it is
that some event will happen
in a given time. A probability
near 100% means that an
event is very likely to happen.
A probability near zero
percent means that an event
is very unlikely to happen.
4. Which area in the map has the highest probability of an earthquake? (1 pt)
5. What is the probability of an earthquake in the North Coast area? (1 pt)
6. The fault section between the South Santa Cruz Mountains and Parkfield has very low
probability. This is because there has been very little damaging seismic activity in the
past. Geologists have also found that the blocks of rock in this section move slowly and
continually. Why would slow, continual movement lead geologists to give the section a low
probability? (2 pt)
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7. What can you infer about why the probability of an earthquake is so high in the Parkfield
area? (3 pt)
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Activity # 2 (Chapter 5 Notes) – 10 points
 Directions: Using Chapter 5 of your textbook, answer the following questions: 1
point each question.
1. In your own words, what is seismology?
2. Where do most earthquakes occur?
3. What are faults and where are they located?
4. What causes an earthquake?
5. Describe how different plate motion creates a variety of earthquake characteristics.
Activity # 2 (Continued)
6. What are seismic waves? Compare and contrast 3 different types.
7. How are seismograph and seismograms related?
8. What is the epicenter of an earthquake?
9. What is the focus of an earthquake?
10. What is the Richter scale?
Activity # 3 – Quick Lab – 5 points
An earthquake results from the movement of rock beneath Earth’s surface and
releases tremendous amounts of stored energy. Some of this energy travels as
seismic waves though Earth’s interior and across its surface.
Procedure:
1. With a partner, experiment with the Slinky to see how many different types of wave
motions you can produce. Stretch the Slinky across the floor while your partner holds the
other end. Do not overstretch. Then try making waves.
2. Gather together about 4 coils of the spring toy and then release them at the same time
while your partner holds his/her end steady. Observe the directions in which the Slinky
moves. Describe the wave motion. (1 pt)
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3. Once the coils have stopped moving, make waves by pulling your end of the Slinky from
side to side while your partner holds his/her end steady. Observe the direction in which
the coils move. Describe the wave motion. (1 pt)
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4. Predict what the two different waves might feel like if you were standing on Earth’s
surface above them. (3 pts)
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Activity # 4 (Earthquake Research) – 15 points

Directions: Go to the website- http:earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/ you can
see large collections of record setting earthquakes such as the largest earthquakes in the
US or the world. Choose any five earthquakes that interest you (as long as all five are
from different areas) and report on them here. (3 points per earthquake, grade will be
based on accuracy and thoroughness of details.)
1.)
Location:
Latitude/Longitude:
Magnitude:
Date:
Interesting Facts
(List at least 3 facts):
2.)
Location:
Latitude/Longitude:
Magnitude:
Date:
Interesting Facts
(List at least 3 facts):
Activity #4 (Continued)
3.)
Location:
Latitude/Longitude:
Magnitude:
Date:
Interesting Facts
(List at least 3 facts):
4.)
Location:
Latitude/Longitude:
Magnitude:
Date:
Interesting Facts
(List at least 3 facts):
5.)
Location:
Latitude/Longitude:
Magnitude:
Date:
Interesting Facts
(List at least 3 facts):
Activity # 5 (Earthquake Map) Directions:
Use the information from the
“Earthquake Research” assignment. Plot the 5 earthquakes based upon their longitude and
latitude. Make a key to identify each location.
Activity # 6 (Earthquake Safe Building) – 15 points
Appling what you have learned about earthquakes, you will create a detailed architectural
sketch of your earthquake safe building using at least 3 of the ideas presented on page 132
in your online textbooks. You may use your own ideas as well, if you think they would work
better (being sure that it will produce a safe structure). This must be an original product
and must be drawn by you.
 In your diagram, LABEL each part of the earthquake safe modifications and EXPLAIN on
the following blank page how it will withstand earthquakes. Your drawing must be neat!
Rubric:
 Drawing uses 3 ideas from the textbook (up to 6 points)
 Explanation is complete (up to 5 points)
 Drawing is neat and parts are labeled correctly (up to 4 points)
Activity # 6 Continued (Earthquake Safe Building Explanation)
Activity #7 (Shake Table) – 10 points
Purpose: To design a building that can withstand an
earthquake.
Materials:
25 pieces of spaghetti
25 mini marshmallows
1 index card
4 inches of tape
??
Your Task: With your team, design a building that you believe can withstand
an earthquake.
Building requirements:




Your design must use no more than the materials provided.
It must be free standing.
The building’s footprint must be made of the index card.
All team members must contribute to the design and construction of
your structure.
There will be an opportunity for your team to win additional materials during
the construction.
After your structure is complete, you will place it on the earthquake shake
table. The winning building will be the tallest one that remains intact after the
earthquake.
Rubric:
Complete building = 5 points
Still intact after shaking = 3 points
Tallest building intact after shaking = 2 points
Activity # 8 (RAFT Writing Prompt) – 20 points
Directions: Select any role, audience, format, and topic to write an essay.
Rubric:
 Essay is a minimum of 2 well-constructed paragraphs (up to 5 points)
 Essay is written in the appropriate role to the appropriate audience (up to 2 points)
 Essay reflects an understanding of earthquakes and includes demonstrates complete
knowledge of the topic (up to 13 points)
ROLE
AUDIENCE
FORMAT
TOPIC
Tectonic
Plate
People of
Chile
Apology
Earthquake
damage of
8.2
Owner of
a large
hotel in
California
Plate
Motions
and Fault
Types
Seismic
Waves
Building
Engineers
Thank You
Note
Earthquake
Safe
Building
Charles
Richter
Explanation Reason for
Earthquakes
Occurring
Seismograph Travel
Brochure
Journey of
Energy
Through the
Earth
Activity # 8 (RAFT Writing Prompt Essay)
Activity # 9 (Conclusion) – 10 points

Directions: Answer each of these questions in a well-organized and detailed paragraph.
1. Where do most earthquakes occur? Why are they more likely to occur in certain
locations? Explain
2. How are earthquakes measured?
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3. What causes earthquakes to occur?