A series of lessons on how and why earthquakes occur is available from a coalition of teachers and scientists aiming to improve earth sciences education.
“Living in Earthquake Country,” a lesson set posted by the Digital Library for Earth System Education, examines the relationship between faults and earthquakes, the patterns of earthquakes, and the characteristics of seismic waves. It also includes a comparison between the 1906 and 1989 San Francisco earthquakes and a collection of online resources on earthquake hazards.
Browse “Living in Earthquake Country,” from the Digital Library for Earth System Education.
At the end of the curriculum, students are asked to select the best place to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, based on their understanding of earthquake probabilities and effects.
The series, gauged for grades 6-12, was created by three teachers in San Francisco and a scientist from the United States Geological Survey. It is linked from the earthquake teaching resources on USGS’s education page.
