Earthquake in Haiti, January 2010

The devastating January 2010 earthquake in Haiti may have your students wondering why such natural disasters occur, how they may be affected by them, and what they can do to help. Use these resources to teach the history and geography of Haiti, to explain earthquakes, and to discuss the resulting crises with your class. We have facts about the Caribbean country, visuals of faults and seismic waves, worksheets and lessons about plate tectonics, and ways in which you and your class can help those affected by the recent disaster in Haiti.

References Haiti Read this country profile to learn about Haiti's history, government, geography and economy. It includes information about the devastating January 2010 earthquake. Earthquakes Explore connections in mathematics and nature with this article on earthquakes. Common Types of Faults Help students visualize changes to the Earth's crust with illustrations of four common types of faults. This earth science printable can be used as a handout or transparency. Movement of Seismic Waves This geophysics printable illustrates the movement of seismic waves during an earthquake. Quizzes Earthquake Quiz This quiz will assess knowledge of earthquakes. Volcanoes and Earthquakes Quiz Review facts about volcanoes and earthquakes. Maps of North America Show your students where Haiti is located on one of these maps. Caribbean Political Map of North America North And Central America Map of North America Haitian Culture African Folk Tales: Background Information Distribute an article that details the various types of African folk tales and gives examples of them. You can use this resource as a supplemental worksheet when studying African culture, such as during Black History Month (February) and for Kwanzaa (December 26). Hispanic Rhythmic Patterns and Drums Use a lesson that helps students understand drum rhythms, performing as a group, and improvising melodies. Integrating Hispanic Music Throughout Curriculum Overview of Latin American music events and styles. Safety Preparation Materials Survival Kits The best way to handle a disaster is to be prepared, as students learn in this printable. Getting Ready for Earthquakes Students answer questions about earthquake preparations and safety. They also learn about earthquakes in the developing world. Science, Technology and Society: Earthquakes Distribute a reading selection and an assignment on earthquake science, predictions, and safety. Teaching Disasters & Crises Cause and Effect A 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. Helping Kids Cope in a Time of Crisis and Fear 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. Impact of Disaster on Students with Exceptionalities How to prepare your exceptional students during disasters both on school campuses and in their respective communities. Intervention Strategies for Disaster How to prepare yourself and your class for disasters. Development of a Child's Understanding of Death An age breakdown of the development of children understanding death. Disasters – Natural and Unnatural Background information on the effects that natural and unnatural disasters have on children and their communities. More on Helping Students Deal with Crises Charities Providing Aid to Earthquake Victims If you're students are interested in collecting money to donate to victims, or if you just want to help, these charities have specific funds dedicated to helping those affected by the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. These groups are approved as four-star organizations by Charity Navigator, an independent business that evaluates charities to ensure your money is used as intended. Direct Relief International Doctors Without Borders Food For The Poor Partners in Health Save the Children Water Missions International

Earthquake Worksheets (Gr. 2–5) Science and Technology: Earthquake! Students draw before and after pictures of the scene of an earthquake. Science, Technology and Society: Quake Meters 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. Reading Warm-Up 62 for Gr. 3 & 4: Science Teach students about earthquakes while improving their reading comprehension skills with a science reading passage and related questions. Earthquake Map Key Use this worksheet to help students read map keys. Earthquake Worksheets (Gr. 6–12) What Are the Different Kinds of Seismic Waves? Students classify S-waves, P-waves, and L-waves by the characteristics listed in the table. What Is the Ring of Fire? Students answer questions about the Ring of Fire, interpret a map, and consider the effects of earthquakes, volcanoes, and fault lines. Science and Language Arts: Earth Processes Students draw from a list of words to make a picture atlas of the earth's geologic history. Diastrophism Students complete diagrams to show the uplifting of the Earth. How Do Earthquakes Cause Damage? Students evaluate true/false statements about earthquakes and tsunamis. They sequence numbers on the Richter scale and classify each earthquake by how much damage it is likely to cause. What Are Earthquakes? Students demonstrate knowledge of key terms and label diagrams of a seismograph and the Earth's crust. What Are Some Effects of Plate Tectonics? Students review the effects of plate tectonics as they match each natural disaster or landform on Earth to its cause. Earthquake Lessons & Activities (Gr. 5–12) Earthquakes and Volcanoes Through this activity students will learn that earthquakes and volcanoes occur where the earth's plates collide (lesson plan and background information included). Earthquake! The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 had far-reaching effects. Read about it and then explore the related activities. Earth Processes: Family Activity 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. Earthquake Waves 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. Modeling Plate Boundaries 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. Modeling Plate Movement 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. Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes Activity Using reference materials, students research the location of ten earthquakes and complete a chart with the latitude and longitude for each location. Then, they plot each location on a map and determine which tectonic plates moved to cause each earthquake. Modeling the Effects of Fault Movements 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. Seismic Risk Map Activity Use the map and key in this printable to evaluate the earthquake risk of different regions in the United States. Other Natural Disasters Floods Hurricanes Tornadoes Tsunamis Volcanoes More Natural Disasters – Teacher Resources