Natural Hazards Lesson Five

Learning Focus: What is an earthquake?

Learning Outcomes

What: Understand what can happen during an earthquake

How: Analyse a seismograph trace

Why: To understand what an earthquake is and what the impacts can be

Write a paragraph that a news reporter might read out as these

images are being shown.

Epicentre

Fault line underground

Fault line

Seismic waves

Focus

Task 2: Match the following definitions to the key words:• Point where the earthquake starts deep underground• Place where two plates meet underground• Point on the surface where two plates meet• Point directly above the focus on the surface• Forces generated by the earthquake causing the ground to shake

Task 1: Complete the diagram of the earthquake cross section using the key words.

Task 1: Living Graph Activity

• Analyse the seismograph reading from an earthquake.

• Read the statements about what might happen before, during and after an earthquake.

• Decide where you think the statements should go on the graph.

• Pick 3 of the statements and write a description to explain why you have put them in this location.

Learning Focus: What is an earthquake?

Learning Outcomes

What: Understand what can happen during an earthquake

How: Analyse a seismograph trace

Why: To understand what an earthquake is and what the impacts can be

HomeworkIn for next lesson

Find out about an earthquake that has recently been in the news.

Must find out: Where it happenedWhen it happenedWhat it measured on the richer scaleWhat some of the impacts were

Complete the reflection block about what you have learnt this

lesson.

3 things I have learnt

about earthquakes

2 things I still want to

know

1 thing I already

knew about earthquakes