Shaking Up the Earth: Exploring Earthquakes

• Geography
• Primary Education

Shaking Up the Earth: Exploring Earthquakes

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to order and explain the levels of the Mercalli Scale.

What do you already know about earthquakes?

Slide 1: Introduction to Earthquakes

Earthquakes are natural phenomena that occur when the Earth's crust shakes. They can be caused by tectonic plate movements, volcanic eruptions, or human activities.

Slide 2: What Causes Earthquakes?

Earthquakes are primarily caused by the movement of tectonic plates. When these plates collide, slide past each other, or move apart, it can result in seismic activity.

Slide 3: The Mercalli Scale

The Mercalli Scale is used to measure the intensity of an earthquake based on the observed effects on people, buildings, and the environment. The scale ranges from I to XII.

Slide 4: Levels I to IV

Levels I to IV on the Mercalli Scale represent earthquakes that are generally not felt by people or cause minimal damage to structures.

Slide 5: Levels V to VIII

Levels V to VIII on the Mercalli Scale represent earthquakes that can cause noticeable shaking of buildings, objects falling, and some damage to structures.

Slide 6: Levels IX to XII

Levels IX to XII on the Mercalli Scale represent the most severe earthquakes with devastating effects, including widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure.

Slide 7: Interactive Activity

Place a bowl of water on a flat surface and drop a pebble into it. Observe and discuss the ripples created. Relate this to seismic waves and their impact during an earthquake.

Slide 8: Recap and Conclusion

Review the key points about earthquakes and the Mercalli Scale. Encourage students to share any questions or reflections they have.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.