In this lesson, students get the opportunity to simulate earthquakes of different magnitudes online and see how they affect buildings. Students will first choose the location and then the earthquake. They'll examine the earthquake-proofing construction for their building. Then, they will chart their simulated data in Microsoft Office Excel so that they can develop conclusions based on their findings. This activity works well with students working in groups.
Science: The student understands earth and space science, science, and technology.
ISTE NETS Standards for students
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Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. Students use the tools to process data and report results.
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Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions. Students use technology when they develop strategies for solving problems in the real world.
Students will research how earthquakes affect buildings.
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Students will collect data on how earthquakes can affect buildings using an online simulation tool.
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Students will communicate their conclusions based on the data they collect.
Prerequisite skills
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Basic experience with Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office Excel
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Basic experience using Microsoft Internet Explorer
How to begin
1.
Brainstorm with students about earthquakes. Depending on where you are located, you can ask if anyone has ever been in an earthquake or how they think it might feel if they were in an earthquake.
2.
Discuss whether there is a way to tell if a building can withstand an earthquake and what types of earthquake-proofing construction students think can help buildings survive.
In this activity, you will work in groups or alone to simulate earthquakes of different magnitudes online and see how they affect buildings. You will first choose the location and the magnitude of the earthquake. Then you'll examine the earthquake-proofing construction for your building. You will chart your simulated data in Excel so that you can develop conclusions based on your findings.
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Software: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office Word
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What to do
Create buildings that can withstand earthquakes and simulate earthquakes
Use the online simulator to simulate 8-10 different earthquakes. Change the locations of the buildings, the earthquake-proofing building constructions, and the magnitudes of the earthquakes. Make sure you keep track of your data in the Excel spreadsheet so that you can use the data to record your conclusions.
5.
Discuss with your group what you discovered. Think about the following:
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Did you find that the location of a building makes a difference?
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Did you notice if certain types of earthquake-proofing construction worked better than others?
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Did you notice how much the size of the earthquake affected the survival of the building?
6.
Record your conclusions in a Word document.
7.
Add your data from your Excel file to your Word document to support your findings.
Assess your students on how well they answered the questions in the Student activity section. Their conclusions should address each question and reference the data they collected with the online simulator.
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You can also assess how accurately they presented their data.
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