TeachersFirst's Earthquake Resources
Whether you teach about earthquakes as part of a unit on plate tectonics in an Earth Science class or need resources to explain a recent natural disaster, this collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students understand how earthquakes happen and learn about famous earthquakes in history. Also included are sites and tools well suited for projects about earthquakes. View all of our resources tagged Earthquakes.
24 Results | sort by:
Watch the last billion years of Earth's tectonic plate movement in just 40 seconds - Aylin Woodward
Grades
5 to 12
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): earth (178), earthquakes (43), plate tectonics (19)
In the Classroom
Engage students in the study of tectonic plates by showing them this fascinating video of their movement over time. As students learn more about plate tectonics, use an interactive tool such as Google Jamboard, reviewed here, for students to share interesting facts. Use Timelinely, reviewed here, to add images, links, maps and more to this video and others used during your lessons to encourage students to focus on specific content. As an extended learning activity, have students use creation tools found at Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, to create graphics, videos, and web pages to demonstrate learning.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Moment Zero - Pilot
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): earthquakes (43)
In the Classroom
There is a learning curve to using this site, be sure to take some time to explore the options on how to find different areas and information that is available. Consider choosing a couple of "tech-savvy" students to become experts on using the site. Ask them to use Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here, to record instructions about finding information, share these tutorials on your class website for student use. As students gather information and statistics from the site, use this as part of a larger activity as you learn about earthquakes. Create a class account for Google My Maps, reviewed here, and enhance student learning by recording earthquake activity around the world as they occur. Have students add images, videos, and vital statistics to this ongoing project.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Disaster Fact Sheets - FEMA
Grades
K to 6tag(s): disasters (36), earthquakes (43), fire safety (16), floods (10), heat (15), hurricanes (34), red ribbon week (10), snow (16), tornadoes (15), tsunamis (15), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use during your weather unit as an introduction to types of severe weather. One of the fact sheets discusses home fires and is perfect to include with Red Ribbon Week activities. After sharing disaster facts with students, ask students to create word clouds using vocabulary terms related to any specific type of disaster. Improve student learning by using a site like Word It Out, reviewed here, to easily create custom word clouds. Upon completion of your unit, ask students to create a book sharing their tips and advice for dealing with disasters. Reshape and redefine learning by using an interactive book creation tool like Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator offers tools for making online books that include images, videos, audio, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Extreme Event - Koshland Science Museum
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (105), disasters (36), earthquakes (43), floods (10), game based learning (167), hurricanes (34), logic (162), problem solving (219)
In the Classroom
Use the materials found on Extreme Event as a hands-on lesson in problem-solving, short and long term planning, and building community. Use an online tool such as Interactive Three Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast different strategies needed to solve problems in different crisis situations. Challenge students to create a brochure or newsletter sharing their findings. Are you integrating technology in your class? Instead of the traditional paper brochure, enhance student learning by using Marq, reviewed here, or if you are more experienced use Sway, reviewed here, and create a newsletter. If you complete this activity with different classes, share results from the different games as part of your discussions on your problem-solving decisions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
2 Minute Geology - Nick Zentner and Tom Foster
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): earthquakes (43), floods (10), geology (64), rocks (33), volcanoes (54)
In the Classroom
Flip your classroom and use a video as homework. Have students take notes on the material and write down questions they still have and topics that confuse them. Or, use a tool like EdPuzzle, reviewed here, for students to pause videos and ask or answer questions right on the video. These activities can uncover misconceptions. Show the video to the class, and then discuss the concept at length. Use these videos to introduce geology concepts, then have students choose an idea to research further. For more advanced classes, provide time for students to choose a video to view and research the underlying concept. Challenge students to make a multimedia presentation of their findings using Sway, reviewed here, or Vevox, reviewed here. Vevox offers interactive features such as real-time polls and comments to keep viewers interested and involved in the presentation. To share a single video from this site without all the YouTube clutter, use a tool such as View Pure, reviewed here, and create a shortcut to the View Pure page directly on the desktop.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
GeoInquiries - ESRI
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): agriculture (46), american revolution (79), civil war (127), climate change (82), cold war (27), demographics (13), earthquakes (43), landforms (37), maps (207), minerals (14), oceans (134), population (45), rocks (33), volcanoes (54), weather (154), world war 1 (66)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lessons offered on GeoInquiries for use in your classroom. Divide students into groups to participate in different activities or use as enrichment for gifted students to complete independently. When finished with your inquiries, enhance srudent learning by challenging students to create a presentation using Prezi, reviewed here, demonstrating information learned.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
When Nature Strikes: Science of Natural Hazards - NBC Learn
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): earthquakes (43), floods (10), hurricanes (34), natural disasters (16), scientists (62), tornadoes (15), tsunamis (15), volcanoes (54), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on the weather. Divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Have each group choose a video to use as a launching pad for further study. Enhance their learning with the challenge to use YiNote, reviewed here, which is a Chrome extension for taking notes online on the video while watching it. Have students create an annotated, narrated image, including text boxes and related links, using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. Place the videos on your classroom website or blog for students to explore on their own. Flip your instruction, and have your scientists watch the videos before class time to build background knowledge. Review nonfiction reading strategies with students before reading the transcripts. Have students investigate STEM careers by researching the jobs of the scientists interviewed in the videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Earthquakes - PBS
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): earthquakes (43), forces (34)
In the Classroom
Incorporate these lessons and activities into your learning unit about earthquakes. Use a teacher utility tool like Actively Learn, reviewed here, to build interactive lessons with text and video while receiving real-time assessments as students complete activities. Enhance learning by asking students to create and share the information learned about earthquakes or earthquake preparedness on an informational web page using a tool like Webnode, reviewed here, or Jimdo, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
OneGeology Kids - OneGeology
Grades
1 to 5tag(s): dinosaurs (38), earthquakes (43), energy (127), fossils (40), geology (64), maps (207), rocks (33), volcanoes (54), water (97)
In the Classroom
Share OneGeology on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to introduce your geology unit to students. Enhance learning by having students create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here. Create a link to the site on classroom computers for students to explore on their own. Transform technology use and enhance learning by having students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Postit Image Annotator & Labeling Tool, reviewed here, to explain different geologic phenomenon.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Science Trek - Idaho Public Television
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animal homes (58), animals (267), archeology (24), body systems (42), brain (52), earthquakes (43), ecology (95), endangered species (27), food chains (16), forces (34), fossils (40), gravity (41), habitats (83), heart (25), human body (90), mass (18), moon (68), planets (108), plants (135), rocks (33), simple machines (17), soil (17), sound (70), STEM (239), volcanoes (54), water (97), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free resources on the site to supplement your current teaching materials in many science topics. Create a link on classroom computers for students to view videos and share a link on your class website for students to view at home. Have students create online posters individually or together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Don't forget to find the standards link within each resource to align to Common Core Standards.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
ABC Splash - ABC TV and Radio Australia
Grades
K to 10tag(s): addition (126), animals (267), antarctica (27), atmosphere (22), australia (25), cells (77), climate change (82), continents (31), counting (58), decimals (86), division (98), earth (178), earthquakes (43), ecosystems (68), egypt (45), energy (127), environment (230), food chains (16), forces (34), forensics (14), fossil fuels (9), game based learning (167), gold rush (14), human body (90), immigration (63), insects (63), light (47), maps (207), molecules (39), money (119), multiplication (121), nuclear energy (19), nutrition (131), oceans (134), parts of speech (42), percent (58), perimeter (18), place value (34), plants (135), probability (93), rhymes (21), rocks (33), songs (44), sound (70), subtraction (108), time (92), vietnam (32), volcanoes (54), weather (154), whole numbers (10), world war 1 (66), world war 2 (140)
In the Classroom
This site is excellent for enrichment. Include it on your class web page for students to access both in and out of class. Share this link on your class web page and/or in a parent newsletter for help with homework and school projects. These high-quality media resources will engage your students and enhance their learning.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Smithsonian: Energy Innovation - Smithsonian
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): energy (127), environment (230), geology (64), natural resources (35), oil (24), resources (85)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site with an interactive whiteboard or projector and big screen. View together as a class to show students how the interactive map works. Have pairs of students go through the interactive maps and write down key phrases for information they learn. Then have the pairs create a word cloud of the important terms learned from this site using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here. This site could be used in a unit on contemporary environmental issues or energy. Use it for background research for a class debate on fracking. It would also provide evidence for a Common Core-style writing piece developing an argument and supporting evidence. In a government or civics class, this information could be part of a class discussion on how government policies can affect the environment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Drop! Cover! Hold On! - Southern California Earthquake Center at USC
Grades
K to 6tag(s): earthquakes (43), natural disasters (16)
In the Classroom
View this site on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) during emergency preparedness lessons or when studying natural disasters. Have students explore your classroom and make lists of how it can be prepared for an earthquake. Enhance learning by having students create online posters individually or together as a class about their results using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Earth Science Teaching Activities and Lesson Plans - Geology.com
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): earthquakes (43), erosion (13), fossils (40), hurricanes (34), maps (207), rocks (33), tsunamis (15), volcanoes (54), water (97), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to view videos and images from the site with your class. Use lesson plans provided as additional resources within Earth Science units. Augment technology use in your classroom and enhance learning by having cooperative learning groups create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. Extend learning and transform the use of technology in your classroom by assigning students different portions of the site to review and prepare multimedia projects to share with the class with Sway, reviewed here, or give students a choice of projects to complete with Genially, reviewed here. Both Sway and Genially will allow your students to create multimedia projects. Genially allows them to choose the type of project they want to create.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Forces of Nature - National Geographic
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): earth (178), earthquakes (43), hurricanes (34), tornadoes (15), volcanoes (54)
In the Classroom
Use this site for students to create awareness sheets that may help the public in the event of a natural disaster. Students can also create public service announcements to help the public. Evaluate the school and community emergency preparedness plan using the information about these forces of nature. Use the information to create a sample emergency kit that all households should have in case of emergency. Make it a multimedia project by having students create online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here, to create an informative book about the weather phenomenon that they studied.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Stop Disasters - International Strategies for Disaster Reduction
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): disasters (36), earth (178), earthquakes (43), fire (22), fire prevention (16), fire safety (16), floods (10), hurricanes (34), natural disasters (16), sun (64), tsunamis (15)
In the Classroom
Create groups of students to run scenarios. Student groups can analyze and determine best scenarios and courses of actions for prevention. After play, groups can analyze past disasters for real life perspectives as well as current conditions in the world for current disaster prevention measures. Use an interactive map to plot locations students find for each disaster. Have students use a mapping tool such as MapHub, reviewed here, to create a map with stories pictures, and video included! Student groups can create a conventional or multimedia presentation on the different types of disasters and possible locations around the world.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Earthquake - Virtual Courseware Project
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): earth (178), earthquakes (43), geology (64), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Use the data to determine epicenter as well as the magnitude of an event. Use data from other sources to determine the same. Use this demo on your interactive whiteboard or projector after discussing specific information about earthquakes and part of a final project. Use the simulations to learn more about how scientists determine where earthquakes start.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Understanding Earthquakes - University of California Santa Barbara
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): earth (178), earthquakes (43), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Use the information as an introductory activity to disasters. Use the data to identify common places where earthquakes occur, research the different types of faults, provide information of the various earthquakes and locations affected, or as a springboard for individual or class projects. Note that much of the information is text-heavy, so younger readers will need assistance reading.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Dynamic Earth Interactive - Annenberg Media
Grades
4 to 9tag(s): earth (178), earthquakes (43), geology (64), mountains (11), plate tectonics (19), volcanoes (54)
In the Classroom
Use this site to introduce Geology or Earth Science or as a review of concepts previously learned in class. Use the site as a springboard for additional activities such as mapping where most earthquakes occur. Follow up with ways to prepare for earthquakes, design buildings to withstand earthquakes or other important topics. Augment technology use in class by having students work in teams to share various aspects of earthquake knowledge for an audience of people living in an earthquake zone using Padlet, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
A Science Odyssey: Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker - PBS
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): earth (178), earthquakes (43), landforms (37), plate tectonics (19)
In the Classroom
Share the plate tectonics siumlator on an interactve whiteboard as you learn about the different ways that plates interact. Be sure to allow students to move the plates and name the resulting changes. To further reinforce the plate activiites, have pairs of students create animated graphics on slides in PowerPoint slides showing the motions of the plates and labeling them. This could also be an alternative assessment that shows real understanding. If they can add their own sound effects, they will really enjoy themselves!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Close comment form