Lessons

For my lesson I decided to adapt an earthquake lesson that I designed last Spring in the Explore Alaska course. I added a week long (or more) section where students will interview family members/elders/community members about an event (1964 quake, etc), and then present that information on a map of that area, including photographs and first hand accounts. Technology permitting, students can create their maps on computers using MapTEACH and/or Google Earth and add digital audio and photo links to areas of their maps. The unit can be introduced with a few TD clips (about the 1964 earthquake, or whatever event the class is focusing on).

Lesson Title: Alaskan Earthquakes

Abstract:
8th grade science – Earth Science, Earthquakes, one blocking period up to two weeks

Standards and GLE’s addressed in this lesson
State (Science Content - B, C, D):
State (Inquiry & Process, Technology, Culture, History and Nature of Science – A, E, F, G):

Materials Needed:
Large plastic and metal slinkies
Corn Starch
Water
Plastic Beakers – 250ml
Science notebooks
Colored pencils
Anchorage cross section handout
Maps of Anchorage and other AK Regions
Computers with Google Earth
MapTEACH software
GPS devises
Digital Audio Recorders and Cameras

New Vocabulary:
Seismic Waves, P waves,S waves,Surface Waves,Tsunamis, Epicenter, Liquefaction


Gear Up:
Materials: TD video - 1964 Alaska Earthquake
Timeline:10-15 minutes
Short Free write/Discussion on the 1964 Earthquake to elicit prior knowledge and then viewing the 1964 Alaska Earthquake video from TD. Then a quick post write on what they learned from the video.

Exploration:
Materials: Slinkies for every pair of students
Timeline:5 minutes – experimenting with slinkies to make different types of waves

Concept Introduction:
Materials:Slinkies, projector/smartBoard
Timeline:20-25 minutes – demo and practice of different seismic waves –observations in science notebooks. Comparison of quakes using the richter scale, historical records, and photos.


Concept Application:
Materials:Anchorage Cross Section Handout
Timeline:30-45 minutes – Students draw and label an imaginary earthquake occurring near Anchorage on the handout. Drawings should include the magnitude on the richter scale, all the seismic wave types, and damage to the city.


Concept Application:

Materials:
Maps of Anchorage and other Alaskan regions

Optional:
MapTEACH software
Google Earth
GPS
Digital audio recorders
Digital cameras
Computers

Timeline:1-2 weeks – Students interview family members, elders, teachers, etc. about 1964 earthquake, or another recent earthquake. If possible, students can check out GPS devices and mark locations of events before uploading them to the computer to create their maps (using the MapTEACH software or Google Earth). Students then create a map of the event on a poster or using the computer. Students should include pictures (drawn or photographs), interviews (transcribed or audio links), and other pertinent background information and research. Students then present information to the class (poster or computer presentation).


Additional Information for teachers: The last concept application could be applied to a variety of events, including tsunami, flooding, glaciers/ice floes melting, population declines, permafrost damage, etc. This could be used as part of a Climate Change unit to share stories from around Alaska and the rest of the world.