Liberty Science Center 9th Grade:

Liberty Science Center 9^th Grade:

Earthquakes

Grade Level: 9^th Grade

Subject: Earth Science

Learning Standards:

New York State MST Standard 4 – Science, Physical Setting

NYS MST Standard 6 – Interconnectedness, Patterns of Change

NYS MST Standard 7 – Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

Time Requirements:

Pre-Visit Lesson = 45 minutes

Visit = 120 minutes

Topics Covered by This Lesson:

Earthquakes

What they are and how they are caused?

Seismic Waves

Building Design for earthquakes

Liberty Science Center

Pre-Visit

Purpose: To learn what earthquakes are and how to build earthquake safe buildings/structures.

To have the students become acquainted with the layout of the Liberty Science Center and what they will be doing there.

Objectives:

Students will learn what earthquakes are and how they are formed.

Students will learn what the different seismic waves are and how they move.

Students will brainstorm and figure out how to construct a building that can withstand all the different seismic waves of an earthquake.

Students will become familiar with the layout of the Liberty Science Center and what they will be doing.

Students will understand what they will be required to do during their visit of the Liberty Science Center (hand out the task requirements for their visit: information they will be gathering and questions they will be answering).

Materials Required:

Copies of the Liberty Science Center map for the students

A piece of cardboard to demonstrate the different seismic waves

Student Learning Prerequisites:

Students must have some knowledge of some simple math and geometry (for earthquake building design).

Visit:

Students are going to be divided into teams of five to investigate the exhibits and to develop an effective building design to withstand earthquakes.

Students are first going to investigate the exhibits entitled, “Torsional Wave”, “Catenary Arch”, and “Center of Gravity” on the lower level.

Students will experiment with these exhibits to expand their knowledge of factors important to building design to withstand an earthquake.

Students will eventually develop a preliminary design and test it out while applying a torsional wave (simulation of an earthquake).

When they are done, students can visit any of the other displays within the museum at their own leisure.

Post Visit:

Assessment:

Ask the students when returning to class what they learned from the exhibits “Torsional Wave”, “Catenary Arch”, and “Center of Gravity”.

Verbally ask the students and review with them:

What are earthquakes?

How are they caused?

What are the different seismic waves and how do they move?

What are some effective design structures to withstand an earthquake?

Extensions and Suggested Homework Assignments:

Have the student’s design and create a building that will withstand an earthquake and that is also cost effective.

Have the students brainstorm and think of any other safe ways/designs that one can use to protect themselves during an earthquake.

Possible Questions:

What areas of the United States and the World are earthquake-prone?

Why were the earthquakes of Turkey so devastating even though they weren’t so high on the Richter scale?

What type of wave is the most damaging?

Do earthquakes occur out in the ocean?

What would be the safest area to be in your home during an earthquake?

What parts of the museum did you find most interesting? What could have been better?

What does a volcanologist do? How do you become a volcanologist?