United StatesEarthquake & Tsunami in Japan, March 2011
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The tragedy of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan may have your students wondering why such large catastrophes occur and how they might be affected by natural disasters. These resources will help you explain earthquakes, tsunamis and the resulting crises to your class. We have reference materials that explain the different causes of earthquakes, information on where earthquakes generally occur, and ways in which you and your class can help those affected by the destruction caused by the recent disaster in Japan. |
General ReferencesExplore connections in mathematics and nature with this article on earthquakes. This quiz will assess knowledge of earthquakes. Learn about the causes of and history behind tsunamis. Find answers to commonly asked questions about tsunamis -- the science behind them and their history. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 had far-reaching effects. Read about it and then explore the related activities. Activities & WorksheetsStudents draw before and after pictures of the scene of an earthquake. This worksheet teaches students about the various ways that we can measure and predict earthquakes. Seismographs are discussed. Students are then asked to respond to the reading on an included worksheet. Teach your students about earthquakes while improving their reading comprehension skills. This printable warm-up includes a science reading passage and related questions. Suggest a family activity to parents that focuses on Earth processes such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and plate tectonics, and on vocabulary words related to Earth. Students draw from a list of words, including such words as lithosphere and plate tectonics, to make a picture atlas of the earth's geologic history. Students create a model to show the effects of strike-slip, normal, and reverse faults on a surface feature, such as a river, road, or fence. Assesses their understanding of the different types of stress that occur in Earth's crust, and the different kinds of faults these stresses cause. Scoring rubric and background notes included. In this activity, students create model buildings from toothpicks. Using Jell-O, sand, and modeling clay, they then simulate earthquake activity to test the stability of their structures. Students create a model for each of three types of plate boundaries: transform boundary, divergent boundary, and convergent boundary. Assesses their understanding of plate tectonics and plate boundaries. Scoring rubric and background notes included. Students develop a working model of plate divergence at the mid-ocean ridge and plate convergence at a trench. Assesses their understanding of the processes of sea-floor spreading, plate divergence, and plate convergence, which shape the ocean floor. Scoring rubric and background notes included. Use this worksheet to help students read map keys. Introduce children to Japanese art and traditional storytelling as they read Tsunami!, written by Kimiko Kajikawa and illustrated by Ed Young. Enrich children's understanding of the story through the lesson plans, discussion questions, and Japanese vocabulary review in this teacher's guide for the book. Connect earth science and physical science with this printable. Students will use their knowledge of waves and natural disasters to answer questions about tsunamis. | Safety Preparation MaterialsThe best way to handle a disaster is to be prepared, as students learn in this printable. Students answer questions about earthquake preparations and safety. They also learn about earthquakes in the developing world. Distribute a reading selection and an assignment on earthquake science, predictions, and safety. Learn what to do in the case of a tsunami in your area. Teaching Disasters & CrisesA cause and effect analysis is an attempt to understand why things happen as they do. Use this resource to help your students understand the effects of various events and actions, so they have a better grasp on the way the world operates. Peruse an article that is intended for parents, but has useful advice for teachers. It details, by age levels, how to explain horrific events to children. How to prepare your exceptional students during disasters both on school campuses and in their respective communities. How to prepare yourself and your class for disasters. An age breakdown of the development of children understanding death. Maps of AsiaShow your students where Japan is located on one of these maps. Japanese CultureLearn about kites with this reading comprehension worksheet. Study the Tokugawa Period in Japanese history by reading The Perfect Sword with your students. This printable will help children learn about Japanese culture, symbolism, and bushido – the samurai code of honor portrayed in the book. Kids will have fun making and wearing this traditional Japanese hat. The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn is an award-nominated mystery that takes place in 18th-century Japan. These ideas and activities will assist you in teaching this outstanding book. Students develop science process skills through an interdisciplinary science and art activity of making Japanese fish prints. Other Natural DisastersBe prepared for future wide-scale natural disasters with lessons and materials on volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornadoes. |
