Introduce third graders to energy waves with a hands-on geology activity, in which they answer questions and compare seismograms in the San Francisco Bay area. After a demonstration that shows how bigger waves indicate a high-intensity earthquake, learners observe how energy waves travel through materials, and connect the damage associated with earthquakes to these waves.

Concepts

earthquakes, seismic waves, seismographs, wave energy, wave crests, wavelength

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Add the following words to your plate tectonics cycle word wall: earthquake, energy waves, frequency, seismogram, magnitude, intensity, epicenter, wavelength, crest, trough, tsunami, and pressure
• Demonstrate the lab before allowing individuals to begin

Classroom Considerations

• Gather necessary materials prior to teaching
• Further background information may be necessary for teachers
• The second in a series of four lessons that makes up a unit on the plate tectonics cycle
• Refer to pages 4-6 in the workbook

Pros

• Answers are provided for pre-lab and lab exercises
• Workbook for the entire unit is included below

Cons

• Alaskan earthquake of 1964 video is not provided; substitute with another video or leave out all together

Common Core

SL.3.1.a SL.3.2