The February 28 Seattle earthquake, which registered 6.8 on the Richter scale, has students around the country thinking and talking about earthquake science. The first stop for teachers in search of earthquake teaching resources should be the Earthquake Hazards Program from the U.S. Geological Survey. This resource includes great maps that identify recent earthquake activity. Click on U.S. map to see activity in your region of the country and in other regions. Earthquake Education includes Stuff for Kids , which offers Today in Earthquake History , Cool Earthquake Facts , Science Fair Project Ideas , a glossary, and more.
Students use real-time Internet resources to keep a record of the locations of current earthquakes.
They plot those locations on a map and color code those marks to indicate the quakes' relative magnitudes. Then they use their maps to infer the locations of tectonic plate boundaries, which they check against actual maps showing plate boundaries. All the kids at school have been teasing you, saying that California is going to fall into the ocean. By completing this WebQuest, you will become an earthquake expert and ensure that you and your family will be safe in your new home. This interdisciplinary WebQuest was designed for middle school students in Illinois, but it could easily be adapted for students in other locations.