Elementary School Earthquake Classroom Activities

Show your students how earthquakes affect buildings.

When elementary school students study earth science, they study the way earth's plate movements affect the earth's surface and frequently cause earthquakes. Elementary school students may have a fear of earthquakes and preconceived ideas of what happens in an earthquake. To teach your elementary school students how long an earthquake lasts, how cities prepare for earthquakes and how important basic necessities are after an earthquake, create earthquake learning activities in your classroom.

Enduring an Earthquake

Elementary students often think that earthquakes go on for a very long time. Provide your students a chance to learn that an earthquake only lasts from 30-60 seconds. Your students can estimate how long they think an earthquake really lasts by being the earthquake. Pair up students, giving one team member a stopwatch to record the time. The other teammate should start shaking as soon as you say, "Go!" When they feel like a minute has passed, they should stop shaking and their teammate should record how long they shook. When the last person stops shaking, ask each timekeeper how long their team's "quake" lasted. Reverse roles and let the timekeepers do the shaking for their team and let the other team member record the time. See if the second "earthquake" is shorter since they had a chance to observe how long a minute really lasts.

Planning a City

Many large cities were built close to fault lines and endure earthquakes frequently. Divide your class into four groups and have each plan how a city can withstand earthquake damage. Each group should create a fictional city near a fault line. On a grid, lay out city buildings, parks and neighborhoods. Write a paragraph on the type of soil found in their city and the types of foundations that would best minimize any structural damage to large buildings. They can map out the parts of the city that would be hit the hardest by an earthquake and recommend ways to help protect that part of their city. When finished, let each group trade their city's plans and get suggestions for how their cities can best prepare for an earthquake.

Surviving an Earthquake

Brainstorm with your elementary school students what they would need to survive for a week after an earthquake occurs. Imagine the buildings do not buckle, but transportation and power will be interrupted. Each person should make a list of three things they must have to survive for a week. Combine the lists with the most critical items at the top. Research the resources needed to keep 100 people alive with no outside help for a week. Plan how much drinking water they will need and the least amount of food needed in that situation. Give your students a budget and see if they can use a grocery store advertisement to estimate how much money it would take for food. Using your city, map out ways to get to a hospital or other essential locations.

References

• FEMA: Earthquake Safety Activities
• Discovery Education: Earthquakes: Getting Ready for the Big One
• State University of New York: Creating the Virtual Model

Resources

• USGS: Students & Teachers