Earthquakes and Their Impact

Active learning works for this topic because students need to feel seismic waves to grasp how energy moves through materials, not just hear about it. Hands-on modeling makes abstract wave behavior concrete, while design challenges let them test ideas about structural stability firsthand.

• Grade 3
• Science
• 4 activities
• 25 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the primary cause of ground shaking during an earthquake, referencing plate tectonics.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of specific safety measures, such as 'drop, cover, and hold on', during an earthquake.
3. Design a model structure using provided materials that demonstrates stability during simulated seismic activity.
4. Identify at least two ways earthquakes can alter landforms or impact human-made structures.
5. Compare the potential impact of an earthquake on different types of structures, like bridges versus houses.

Museum Exhibit

⏱ 35 min·Small Groups

Simulation Station: Jello Earthquakes

Prepare trays of firm gelatin to mimic Earth's crust. Students place toothpicks or small block structures at different spots and shake trays at varying intensities. They draw before-and-after sketches and note stability factors. Conclude with class share-out of patterns.

Prepare & details

Explain what causes the ground to shake during an earthquake.

Facilitation Tip: During Jello Earthquakes, remind students to tap gently at first to observe wave patterns before stronger shakes that topple buildings.

Setup: Tables or desks arranged as exhibit stations around room

Materials: Exhibit planning template, Art supplies for artifact creation, Label/placard cards, Visitor feedback form

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Museum Exhibit

⏱ 45 min·Pairs

Design Challenge: Marshmallow Structures

Provide spaghetti noodles and marshmallows for pairs to build tall towers. Test on a teacher-shaken tray simulating quake waves. Measure heights before and after, then redesign for better survival. Groups present improvements.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the safety measures people can take during an earthquake.

Facilitation Tip: For Marshmallow Structures, ask guiding questions like 'Which wall is most important to hold your marshmallow tower up?' to focus redesign efforts.

Setup: Tables or desks arranged as exhibit stations around room

Materials: Exhibit planning template, Art supplies for artifact creation, Label/placard cards, Visitor feedback form

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Museum Exhibit

⏱ 25 min·Whole Class

Safety Scenarios: Role-Play Drills

Assign roles in classroom setups mimicking homes or schools. Practice drop, cover, hold on during simulated alerts with sounds or timers. Debrief what worked and why, creating safety posters.

Prepare & details

Design a structure that could withstand a small earthquake.

Facilitation Tip: In Safety Scenarios, assign specific roles (e.g., 'the person who calls emergency services') to make drills feel authentic.

Setup: Tables or desks arranged as exhibit stations around room

Materials: Exhibit planning template, Art supplies for artifact creation, Label/placard cards, Visitor feedback form

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Museum Exhibit

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

Model Building: Clay Faults

Pairs layer colored clay to form plates and faults. Slowly slide layers to simulate slips, observing surface changes like cracks or offsets. Record with photos or drawings for science notebooks.

Prepare & details

Explain what causes the ground to shake during an earthquake.

Facilitation Tip: When building Clay Faults, use a plastic knife to carve faults after students observe where cracks naturally form in the clay.

Setup: Tables or desks arranged as exhibit stations around room

Materials: Exhibit planning template, Art supplies for artifact creation, Label/placard cards, Visitor feedback form

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Experienced teachers approach this topic by starting with students' existing ideas about shaking, then using simple materials to test those ideas. Avoid spending too much time on prediction myths; instead, emphasize preparation through practice. Research shows that students retain concepts better when they build, test, and revise models rather than watch demonstrations.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students using evidence to explain why certain structures fail during shaking, not just following steps without reflection. They should connect local risks in British Columbia to global plate movement after testing models. Clear observation language during activities shows growing conceptual understanding.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Jello Earthquakes, watch for students who say buildings 'get swallowed' by cracks in the jello.

What to Teach Instead

Pause the activity and ask students to mark where cracks appear versus where the marshmallow tower falls, emphasizing that most damage comes from shaking, not gaping holes.

Common Misconception

During Marshmallow Structures, listen for students who claim Canada never has earthquakes.

What to Teach Instead

While they test their towers, point to a map of Canada and ask them to mark where they think the strongest quakes happen, then connect their predictions to class data.

Common Misconception

During Safety Scenarios, note if students mention animals predicting quakes.

What to Teach Instead

After the drill, ask students what tools scientists actually use to monitor earthquakes, then demonstrate how a simple shake table shows unpredictable timing without animal help.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After Marshmallow Structures, show images of three buildings and ask students to circle the one most likely to fail, writing one sentence explaining their choice based on their tower tests.

Discussion Prompt

During Safety Scenarios, ask students to share one safety tip they taught their 'younger sibling' after the drill, noting how many include 'Drop, Cover, Hold On' without prompting.

Exit Ticket

After Clay Faults, have students draw a simple fault line and label the direction of plate movement, including one sentence about what causes the fault to slip based on their model observations.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to build a structure using only spaghetti and marshmallows that can survive the strongest shake in Jello Earthquakes.
• For students who struggle with fault lines, provide pre-cut clay slabs and have them trace plate boundaries from a map before modeling.
• Deeper exploration: Have students research how engineers reinforce bridges in earthquake zones and present their findings to the class.

Key Vocabulary

Tectonic Plates	Large pieces of Earth's outer shell that move slowly over the mantle, causing geological events like earthquakes.
Fault Line	A crack or fracture in Earth's crust where there has been movement, often the site of earthquakes.
Seismic Waves	Vibrations that travel through Earth's layers, produced by earthquakes, causing the ground to shake.
Epicenter	The point on Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake originates underground.
Landslide	The rapid downward movement of rock, soil, and debris, often triggered by earthquakes.