SEISMIC SLEUTHS MODULES

What is an Earthquake

Earthquake Myths Discuss the myths invented by different cultures to describe earthquake phenomenon.
What do you know? Evaluate your students' knowledge on earthquakes.
How do earthquakes happen? Explanations and examples of fault motion.
Why do earthquakes happen? A description of the layers of the Earth and how plate tectonics works.
Earthquakes in time Geologic time and paleoseismology.
Related Hazards Experiments describing liquifaction, landslides, and tsunami.

How Do We Study Earthquakes

History of tectonics and seismology Ancient China to modern seismographs.
Earthquake waves P and S waves, Raleigh waves, and Love waves.
Measuring the size of earthquakes Mercalli intensity scale, the Richter scale, and moment magnitude.
Earthquake Distribution Two and three dimensional distribution of earthquakes.
Can we predict earthquakes? Earthquake prediction vs. earthquake forecasting.

Building for Earthquakes

Building fun An introduction to building techniques.
Structural reinforcement Learn what can be done to make a building stronger.
The BOSS model Building resonance and earthquakes.
The shake table Test a building's resistance to shaking.
Building challenge Build your own earthquake-proof building.

Earthquake Safety

What to do in an earthquake Drop, cover, and hold!
Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) Check your home and school for earthquake dangers.
Community RVS Expand the safety checklist to the community.
Smart siting Use geologic and hazard maps to determine where it is safe to build.

Are You Prepared for an Earthquake?

Personal preparedness Learn what you need to survive an earthquake or other natural disaster.
Community preparedness Work with community leaders to determine what is needed for disaster response.
Community lifelines Find out what is vital in the community and what to do if those lifelines are cut.
Earthquake simulation Play the parts of community leaders and show what you know about preparing for and dealing with a major earthquake.


 PREVIOUS

NEXT