Science Matters
Spaghetti Fault Model
Does increasing the pressure between two moving plates provide a stabilizing force or create more destruction? The hands-on lesson encourages exploration of strike-split fault models. The sixth lesson in a 20-part series asks scholars to...
Science Matters
A Model of Plate Faults
The San Andreas fault is one of the longest fault zones in the world. In a series of 20 lessons, the fourth lesson has pupils use a paper model to recreate various types of plate faults. Each is held in position then drawn into a science...
Curated OER
Comparing the New Madrid and San Andreas Fault Zones
In this faults instructional activity, students use an earthquake reference sheet to find the numbers for a modified Mercalli and Richter scale. They compare the San Andreas Fault zone and the New Madrid fault zone on the United States...
Curated OER
Puzzle of the Plates
Learners research tectonic plates and their movement. In this plate instructional activity, students describe the motion of these plates and the boundaries between them. They look into the San Andreas Fault and explore the earthquakes...
Science Matters
Slip Sliding Along
The San Andreas Fault is the largest earthquake-producing fault in California. In the seventh lesson in the 20 part series, pupils create maps of California, focusing on the San Andreas Fault system. The comparison of where California is...
Curated OER
It's Not Your Fault
Students determine how to measure the movement of the plates along the San Andreas Fault. Students calculate the movement of tectonic plates over a period of time and describe the processes involved in the occurrence of earthquakes along...
Science Matters
Fault Formations
The San Andreas Fault moves about two inches a year, approximately the same rate fingernails grow—crazy! The third lesson in the series allows for hands-on exploration of various fault formations. Through the use of a Popsicle stick,...
Science Matters
Earth Shaking Events
The world's largest measured earthquake happened in 1960 in Chile, reaching a terrifying 9.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale. The second lesson in the 20-part series introduces earthquakes and fault lines. Scholars map where previous...
Science Matters
Up and Down Fault Blocks
The Sierra Mountains in Nevada and the Tetons in Wyoming originally formed as fault block mountains. In order to visualize these fault blocks, pupils use construction paper to create layers of earth. They cut the paper models and form...
Curated OER
Fault Features
Students discuss the different kinds of faults in the earth's crust and examine photos of the San Adreas Fault. Working in groups, they experiment with fault making by placing fabric in a pan and filling the inside with wet dirt. When...
Curated OER
Earthquakes: Second Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
What causes earthquakes? Second graders learn about stresses from plate movement with a set of hands-on activities. After tracing fault lines on a map with yarn, class members create a paper plate model of Earth to show its layers and...
Curated OER
It's Not Your Fault
Young scholars study the San Andreas Fault, calculate its movements, and compare the movements on both sides. In this earthquake instructional activity students use the Internet to track movement, and calculate movement using a...
Teach Engineering
Earthquakes Living Lab: Geology and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
We can learn from the past to protect the future. Pairs look at two historical earthquakes: San Francisco, Calif., and Kobe, Japan. Pupils compare the two earthquakes and their impacts, then determine how engineers may use the...
Curated OER
Earthquakes And Fault Lines
Students discuss major causes of earthquakes and identify famous fault lines, access and map information about ten largest earthquakes in world from 1989 to 1998, and theorize about location of these earthquakes as they relate to Earth's...
Curated OER
Earthquake Patterns
Students identify and interpret the cyclical nature of the Parkfield, California earthquakes. They then investigate and graph earthquake occurrences on the Mojave segment of the San Andreas fault and then on the Hayward fault in order to...
Curated OER
Quake Clues
High schoolers study earthquakes and how sediment accumulations are used for past information on earthquakes. In this earthquake instructional activity students interpret sediment cores and describe turbidites.
Curated OER
Plate Tectonics
In this geology worksheet, learners will cut a map of California along the San Andreas fault line to see how California might change in the future. Then students will compare a world map from 50 million years in the future with a present...
Curated OER
Los Angeles, California: ESL Lesson
Take a trip to sunny Los Angeles with this vibrant ESL presentation. English learners study the attributes of L.A, such as beaches, palm trees, and the San Andreas Fault. Perfect for a unit about travel or geography, this is a great way...
Curated OER
Off to the Future
Learners read a handout and predict the position of the San Andreas Fault far in the future. In this future world lesson, students use a map worksheet to demonstrate the path of the Pacific Plate millions of years from now.
Curated OER
Forces Inside the Earth
In this faults activity, students identify the three types of faults and the characteristics that define a normal fault, reverse fault, and a strike-slip fault. This activity has 3 fill in the blank and 3 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Faulty Movement
Students discover the faults throughout the Earth. They describe the different types of faults and how they are related to earthquakes. They build models of the faults.
Curated OER
Forces in Earth
In this Earth's forces worksheet, students will review the characteristics of earthquakes, including types of faults. Students will interpret a seismograph read-out from an earthquake. Students will complete 10 fill in the blank...
Curated OER
The Great Continental Drift Mystery
Students stud the concept of Pangaea by using Wegener's clues to construct a map of the continents joined together. They determine how fossil distribution can be used to enhance the study of continental drift. They locate the...
Curated OER
Theory of Plate Tectonics
In this plate tectonics activity, student answer 15 multiple choice questions about plate movement, types of boundaries, collision of plates, continental plates, and the lithosphere.