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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes

Measure earthquakes and reduce their risks

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.MS-ESS3-2CCSS NGSS.SEP 5England: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphereEngland: KS3 Geography: Natural hazards

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Measure earthquakes and reduce their risks.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Where do most earthquakes and volcanoes happen? (in the middle of every continent / along the edges of tectonic plates / only at the North Pole / randomly everywhere) → along the edges of tectonic platesPrompt: Plates push, pull and slide against each other.
  2. Two plates move apart at about 5 cm per year. How far apart will they move in 100 000 years, in kilometres? (1 km = 100 000 cm) → 5 kmPrompt: First find the distance in cm.
  3. Plate tectonics: which statement is NOT true? (The Earth's crust is broken into large pieces called tectonic plates. / The continents have always been where they are now. / Plates move a few centimetres each year. / Scientists cannot yet predict exactly when an earthquake will happen.) → The continents have always been where they are now.Prompt: How fast do your fingernails grow? Plates move at about that speed.

Hook · 5 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Measure earthquakes and reduce their risks. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: On the magnitude scale, each whole number up means the ground shaking (wave amplitude) is 10 times larger. How many times larger is the shaking in a magnitude 8 earthquake than in a magnitude 6?
  • Step 1: 8 − 6 = 2
  • Step 2: 10^2 = 100
  • Step 3: So the answer is: 100
  • Answer: 100
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. On the magnitude scale, each whole number up means the ground shaking (wave amplitude) is 10 times larger. How many times larger is the shaking in a magnitude 9 earthquake than in a magnitude 6? → 1000Prompt: How many steps up the scale is it?
  2. Why can scientists not predict the exact time of an earthquake? (Stress builds up unpredictably along faults, so only long-term probabilities can be given / Earthquakes are random and have no causes / Seismometers do not work / Earthquakes only happen at night) → Stress builds up unpredictably along faults, so only long-term probabilities can be givenPrompt: Forecasts give chances over decades.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. On the magnitude scale, each whole number up means the ground shaking (wave amplitude) is 10 times larger. How many times larger is the shaking in a magnitude 7 earthquake than in a magnitude 4? → 1000Prompt: How many steps up the scale is it?
  2. Why can scientists not predict the exact time of an earthquake? (Stress builds up unpredictably along faults, so only long-term probabilities can be given / Earthquakes only happen at night / Earthquakes are random and have no causes / Seismometers do not work) → Stress builds up unpredictably along faults, so only long-term probabilities can be givenPrompt: Forecasts give chances over decades.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes.
  • Use concrete materials: rock samples.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Measure earthquakes and reduce their risks

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Earthquakes: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Each step up in magnitude releases about 32 times more energy.
    • B. Undersea earthquakes can cause tsunamis.
    • C. Earthquakes only happen in hot countries.
    • D. Most earthquakes happen near plate boundaries.

  2. Question 2

    Some countries send phone alerts seconds before strong shaking arrives. How is this possible?

    • A. Phones feel the earthquake first
    • B. Radio waves are slower than seismic waves
    • C. They predict quakes days ahead
    • D. Sensors detect the faster, weaker first waves and send warnings before slower damaging waves arrive

  3. Question 3

    On the magnitude scale, each whole number up means the ground shaking (wave amplitude) is 10 times larger. How many times larger is the shaking in a magnitude 9 earthquake than in a magnitude 6?

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Why can scientists not predict the exact time of an earthquake?

    • A. Seismometers do not work
    • B. Earthquakes are random and have no causes
    • C. Stress builds up unpredictably along faults, so only long-term probabilities can be given
    • D. Earthquakes only happen at night

  5. Question 5

    On the magnitude scale, each whole number up means the ground shaking (wave amplitude) is 10 times larger. How many times larger is the shaking in a magnitude 8 earthquake than in a magnitude 5?

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    What instrument records earthquake waves?

    • A. a seismometer
    • B. a barometer
    • C. an anemometer
    • D. a thermometer

  7. Question 7

    On the magnitude scale, each whole number up means the ground shaking (wave amplitude) is 10 times larger. How many times larger is the shaking in a magnitude 6 earthquake than in a magnitude 5?

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    On the magnitude scale, each whole number up means the ground shaking (wave amplitude) is 10 times larger. How many times larger is the shaking in a magnitude 6 earthquake than in a magnitude 3?

    Answer

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Answer key: Measure earthquakes and reduce their risks

  1. 1. C. Earthquakes only happen in hot countries.

  2. 2. D. Sensors detect the faster, weaker first waves and send warnings before slower damaging waves arrive

  3. 3. 1000

  4. 4. C. Stress builds up unpredictably along faults, so only long-term probabilities can be given

  5. 5. 1000

  6. 6. A. a seismometer

  7. 7. 10

  8. 8. 1000