TechQuest 1: Lesson Guide
Lesson Author: Susan Glassett
FELT was developed through the CyberTEAM Project
in collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Part I: Lesson Guide
1. Content standards
 Students know that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called
faults and that volcanoes and fissures are locations where magma reaches the surface.
 Students know that the effects of an earthquake on any region vary depending on size
of the earthquake, the distance of the region from the epicenter, the local geology, and
the type of construction in the region.
2. Key concepts addressed by the module
 Students will be able to:
a. identify types of seismic waves (P and S)
b. explain how the epicenter of an earthquake is located.
3. Guide to carry out the activities
A. Engage – Start with a review of “P” and “S” waves with a demonstration:
a. Have everyone standup shoulder to shoulder in a U facing the front of the room
b. Start the “P” wave by leaning into the first student. This simulates a compression
wave
c. Now have everyone link arms. Start the “S” wave by bending over at your waste.
Discuss which is faster – you can use this simulation
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1002/es1002p
age01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
CyberTEAM Project-CSUSM©2010
URL: www.csusm.edu/cyberteam/
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B. Explain – Use PowerPoint presentation to explain a seismogram and that any
seismogram can be used to determine the distance of the epicenter from the
seismograph
C. Explore – Students work in pairs to find and record the epicenter of three earthquakes
using the FELT tool and handouts
4. Teacher Notes
 This lesson comes after introduction to earthquakes and seismic waves
 Have the students work in pairs even when you have 1 computer per student
 Have the students alternate between using the computer and recording the information
 Ask students to record the location of the epicenter once they have found it
5. Assessment plan
Review the worksheet for completeness & accuracy. You can also have students
individually answer the question in their science notebooks, lab books or on a piece of
paper; “How do we find the epicenter of an earthquake?” to review for understanding. I
let them answer using a picture instead of sentences if they choose to.
6. Technology resources used in the module
a) Laptop or desktop computers
b) Internet with most current version of Firefox and Google plug-in
c) FELT Tool
d) The Richter Scale Tool (for extension)
e) SMART board (optional)
7. Extension Activities
a) Exercise #2 of the FELT (handout provided)
b) Exercise #3 of the FELT (handout provided)
c) use PowerPoint (measuring.ppt) to discuss how we measure earthquakes then have
students work in pairs with The Richter Scale to find the magnitude of earthquakes
CyberTEAM Project-CSUSM©2010
URL: www.csusm.edu/cyberteam/
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Part II: Learning Object
1. Learning object or tool used in lesson
The Flash Epicenter Location Tool (FELT) shows students how seismologists use data
collected from scientific instruments to precisely locate the epicenter of an earthquake.
2. Student Activities
Students use the FELT tool select three seismic stations, look at a seismogram for a
selected earthquake and display the distance the epicenter was from the station as a
circle on a map. This is done three times to locate the epicenter. The location of the
epicenter is then recorded.
3. Directions for use of learning objects
1. Open the FELT tool link
2. Select an earthquake
3. Click continue
4. Now, click any triangle (seismic station)
5. Answer the question(s), click continue and click on another triangle
6. Answer the question(s), click continue and click on a third triangle.
7. Congratulations! You have located the epicenter of your chosen earthquake.
Links:
FELT https://iquest.csusm.edu/mod/wiki/view.php?id=269&page=Flashbased+Epicenter+Location+Tools+%28FELT%29
P & S waves animation:
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1002/es1002p
age01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
The Richter Scale Tool: http://www.siovizcenter.ucsd.edu/library/TLTC/TLTCmag.htm
CyberTEAM Project-CSUSM©2010
URL: www.csusm.edu/cyberteam/
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