Earthquakes in Central America Lesson

BELL WORK1. Open your binder to the bell work tab

2. Write a few sentences explaining what you think it would be like to experience an earthquake.

OBJECTIVEI can evaluate how the physical processes of earth can affect daily life

HOW?

I will compare and contrast 2 earthquakes: Nicaragua earthquake in 1972 to the American earthquake of 1906

VIDEO TIME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSgB1IWr6O4

Why Earthquakes?

Central America is an isthmus which is a strip of land that connects two large landmasses. It connects the South and North America continents.

PLATE TECTONICS

Highlands, the hilly section of a country, make up most of Central America. Like Mexico, Central America lies at the edge of tectonic plates.

Underwater Mountains

The Caribbean Islands are made up of three main parts. The Bahamas are an archipelago, a chain of nearly 700 islands. The Greater Antilles include the largest islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti and Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles include the remaining smaller islands. Many of the islands are actually exposed tops of underwater mountains. Mountains make up the interior of most Caribbean Islands.

Did you know?

Because of the physical geography of Mexico and Central America, they are prone to earthquakes!

CLOSE READING

15 minutes

End

• Two of you will be assigned the earthquake of Nicaragua to research. You will then collaborate with your partner and create a way to teach the other 2 members of your pod.

• The other two of you will be assigned the earthquake of 1906 in the United States. You will then collaborate with your partner and create a way to teach the other 2 members of your pod.

Nicaraguan US

Earthquake

Earthquake

EXIT TICKET

Based on what you have learned about the 2 earthquakes, write a short statement explaining how physical processes affect daily life.

*Use evidence from the text to explain your point.