NZ Earthquake
Focus Questions
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Discuss the NZ earthquake story with another student.
Describe the devastation the earthquake caused.
Why do a large number of earthquakes happen on the `Ring of Fire’?
How are earthquakes measured?
What magnitude was the recent earthquake in Christchurch?
Why was the recent earthquake more destructive that the September
earthquake?
7. Seismologists can predict when earthquakes will occur. True or false?
8. What will need to be rebuilt after this earthquake?
9. What are the short and long term needs of the survivors after an earthquake?
10. What do you understand more clearly since watching the BtN story?
NZ earthquake
News stories can sometimes be upsetting. We have provided a document in the
teacher’s pack that suggests ways to support young people upset by news stories.
Negotiate with students how many activities they will need to complete from each
section.
Remember and understand

Create a glossary of key words associated with earthquakes including:
earthquake, epicentre, magnitude, Richter scale, plate tectonics.

Make a list of questions you have about earthquakes. Visit the following
websites and see which questions are answered.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/expert/realexpert/earthquakes/
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/kids/eqscience.php

Research and write 10 true or false statements about earthquakes. For
example: The edges of tectonic plates are called plate boundaries (true).
Apply and Analyse

What is an epicentre? On a map of New Zealand, show the epicentre of
the earthquake in Christchurch. How far away from the epicentre was the
earthquake felt?

How do natural disasters like earthquakes affect people? Students write a
personal response to a news story about the Christchurch earthquake.
Present your response to another student.

What is the role of a seismologist? Research the different aspects of their
job and present your information as an information report or job
description.
© ABC 2011
EPISODE 4
1ST MARCH 2011
Learning Areas
Science
Key learning
Students will gain a deeper
understanding of how
earthquakes occur and the
impact they have on
people.
Evaluate and create

What are plate tectonics and how do they work? Research the types of
plate movement; divergent, convergent and lateral slipping. Create a
diagram and explanation for each. What does the` Ring of Fire’ have to do
with plate tectonics?

A seismograph is a device that scientists use to measure earthquakes.
Working in pairs, design and make a model that measures seismic waves.
The following website has step by step instructions for making a simple
seismograph. Present your working model to the class.
http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/lessons/indiv/davis/hs/Seismograph.html

The following website has images of the Christchurch earthquake. Create a
caption for each image
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3755744&grade=78
Self assessment
What do you understand more clearly since completing these activities?
What would you do differently next time? Why?
 Related Research Links
ABC Behind the News – Earthquakes
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2835225.htm
ABC Behind the News – Ring of Fire
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2709798.htm
ABC News – Earthquake Q&A
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/23/3147021.htm
ABC Science – Ask an expert
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/02/23/3146490.htm
Scholastic – Earthquake rocks New Zealand
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3755744&grade=78
Plate Tectonics – Earthquakes
http://www.plate-tectonics.org/earthquakes/
USGS - The Science of Earthquakes
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php
National Geographic – Earthquakes
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/interactive/index.html?secti
on=e
BBC - How earthquakes happen (animation)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/4126809.stm
© ABC 2011