TEACHERS LINKING KIT
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR
LOMA PREITA FAULT MODEL KIT
What you'll need to do or get:
Copies of fault pattern, enough for each student
Scissors for each student (check to see if there are enough for your class)
Glue for each student (check to see if supplies are fresh)
What should be in the kit:
Detailed script to help you do this activity.
Pre-constructed paper fault models to use for demonstration.
California map showing major fault lines.
Master copy of pattern, use this to run copies for yourself and students.
Scissors, glue sticks.
When you're finished:
Please be sure that all of the materials are back in the kit.
Attach a note to the bag warning about any missing or broken items.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING THE KIT WITH YOU TO THE FIELD TRIP TO
RETURN TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERS!
Environmental Volunteers ©
Loma Prieta Fault Model
EQ-05
page 1
LOMA PRIETA- FAULT MODEL
EQ- 05
SOURCE:
U.S. Geological Survey
OBJECTIVES:
to make a three-dimensional model that illustrates the vertical and
horizontal fault action along the San Andreas Fault and to illustrate the
absence of a fault break in the ground surface (hypocenter)
SCIENCE THEMES:
Systems and interactions, energy, patterns of change
PROCESS Skills:
Relating, inferring, applying comparing
GRADE LEVELS:
4-6
FOCUS WORDS:
Transverse fault, epicenter, hypocenter, horizontal slip, vertical slip, plate, model
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Paper model diagrams (enough copies for each student, or half if they work in pairs)
Scissors
Glue sticks
Scotch tape and masking tape
Pens
Map of California showing various fault lines Sample model- preassembled
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
(See additional background information in this binder.)
The San Andreas Fault is one of the longest and most active faults in the world. This fault zone is
the result of the action of two plates, the Pacific and North American. Over millions of years
these plates have been grinding past each other at the rate of one to two inches per year. Friction
prevents the plates from sliding smoothly past each other. Rocks close to the fault zone snag on
each other; they bend and store tremendous amounts of energy. Eventually the stored energy
becomes greater than the friction and the rocks break apart with a snap. This snap releases
tremendous amounts of energy in the form of an earthquake.
Evidence of previous earthquakes can be observed along the fault zone. Look for sag ponds (no
natural outlet for collected water), creeks that have moved their course, shifting of pavement,
fences and rocks, formation of a linear ridge (hill parallel to the fault line), and the appearance of
springs.
The 1989 Lorna Prieta quake produced both vertical and horizontal movement. Most earthquakes
along the San Andreas Fault have produced only a horizontal slip
Environmental Volunteers ©
Loma Prieta Fault Model
EQ-05
page 2
ACTIVITY:
1. Discuss hypocenter (below surface) versus epicenter (on the surface). Explain a transverse
type fault. During the 1989 Lorna Prieta earthquake, the initial movement along the fault
began within the earth and never reached the surface.. Consequently, a series of cracks,
fractures and bending occurred (indicated by the broken lines on top portion of the paper
model).
2. Changes in elevation occurred with the Pacific plate moving vertically 4 feet, at a 70%
angle over the North American plate (due to a bend in the San Andreas Fault). The Santa
Cruz Mountains locate on the Pacific plate in the area of the hypocenter are now 4 ft higher
since the quake. Horizontal movement also occurred as the Pacific plate moved
approximately 6 feet to the northwest.
The children can simulate these movements on their paper models to observe buckling at the
fractured fault line
(takes about 10 minutes if students pair up)
Refer to the plate model diagrams
3.
a) Have children work in pairs. One student cuts each plate model, making sure that a cut is
made along the dark line to allow for proper folding.
b) The second student creases the cutout plate model on the black lines, then folds the tabs underneath
and pastes the sides together.
c) After the separate North American and Pacific plates are pasted, place them in position to
each other (arrows in opposite directions with slanted slip fault in the center). Cut out the
surface layer, slit the fissures, put paste only on the very ends of the surface layer and attach
to the top of each of the plates.
d) After glue has set on their models, the children can simulate the movement that occurred
by moving the Pacific plate vertically and shifting the North American plate northward to
cause further bucking of the fracture area.
.
Environmental Volunteers ©
Loma Prieta Fault Model
EQ-05
page 3