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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.4-ESS3-2England: KS2 Geography links

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.

  • 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: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes

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 (Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. How did the Himalaya mountains form? (Glaciers built them. / Rivers piled up sand. / A giant volcano erupted once. / Two plates pushed into each other and crumpled the land upwards.) → Two plates pushed into each other and crumpled the land upwards.Prompt: What happens when you push two rugs together on a floor?
  2. True or false? Many volcanoes form where plates meet. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Where do plates meet, and what forms there?
  3. How did this feature form: the Mariana Trench? (formed where plates push together / formed where plates pull apart) → formed where plates push togetherPrompt: Is it a high mountain range or deep trench, or a crack and ridge where new rock appears?

Hook · 5 min

  • Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
  • Share the objective: Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. 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: Which solution best reduces harm from earthquakes?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: buildings with flexible frames and shock-absorbing bases
  • Answer: buildings with flexible frames and shock-absorbing bases
  • 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. Which solution best reduces harm from landslides? (retaining walls, drainage and planting on slopes / buildings with flexible frames and shock-absorbing bases / ocean sensors, warning sirens and signposted routes to high ground / monitoring gas and ground movement, and evacuation plans) → retaining walls, drainage and planting on slopesPrompt: What does each hazard do: shake, flood from the sea, erupt, or slide?
  2. Two building designs are shaken on a test table. Design A falls at a weaker shake than design B. What should engineers conclude? (Design A is better. / Design B is better at surviving earthquakes. / Both are equally strong. / Shake tables tell us nothing.) → Design B is better at surviving earthquakes.Prompt: Which one needed a stronger shake to fall?

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. A town is near an active volcano. Which plan would help people most? (Ignoring warning signs / Painting the volcano / Building more homes right next to the crater / Mapping danger zones and keeping clear evacuation routes) → Mapping danger zones and keeping clear evacuation routesPrompt: Where do lava flows and ash usually go?
  2. True or false? Scientists can stop earthquakes from happening. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: We cannot stop these hazards. What can we do?

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: Patterns on maps: mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes.
  • 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-4.

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

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Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which solution best reduces harm from volcanic eruptions?

    • A. buildings with flexible frames and shock-absorbing bases
    • B. ocean sensors, warning sirens and signposted routes to high ground
    • C. monitoring gas and ground movement, and evacuation plans
    • D. retaining walls, drainage and planting on slopes

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Taller buildings are always safer in an earthquake.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    Scientists cannot stop a volcano erupting. What CAN they do?

    • A. cool the magma with ice
    • B. watch for warning signs and help people leave in time
    • C. plug the top with concrete
    • D. move the volcano

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Scientists can stop earthquakes from happening.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Why do people practise earthquake drills like "Drop, Cover and Hold On"?

    • A. Because earthquakes happen every day everywhere.
    • B. So everyone knows how to protect themselves quickly during shaking.
    • C. To predict the exact time of the next earthquake.
    • D. To make earthquakes smaller.

  6. Question 6

    Which solution best reduces harm from tsunamis?

    • A. ocean sensors, warning sirens and signposted routes to high ground
    • B. retaining walls, drainage and planting on slopes
    • C. buildings with flexible frames and shock-absorbing bases
    • D. monitoring gas and ground movement, and evacuation plans

  7. Question 7

    True or false? Some buildings are designed to sway safely during earthquakes.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    Two building designs are shaken on a test table. Design A falls at a weaker shake than design B. What should engineers conclude?

    • A. Design A is better.
    • B. Design B is better at surviving earthquakes.
    • C. Shake tables tell us nothing.
    • D. Both are equally strong.

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Answer key: Reduce the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis

  1. 1. C. monitoring gas and ground movement, and evacuation plans

  2. 2. B. False

  3. 3. B. watch for warning signs and help people leave in time

  4. 4. B. False

  5. 5. B. So everyone knows how to protect themselves quickly during shaking.

  6. 6. A. ocean sensors, warning sirens and signposted routes to high ground

  7. 7. A. True

  8. 8. B. Design B is better at surviving earthquakes.