Essential Question: How do stories of cataclysmic events help inform students about geosciences and cultures?
EXPLORE
Earthquakes
Let's begin our exploration of earthquake causes and affects with a TD video about a not particularly Good Friday in Alaska, the 1964 Alaska Earthquake.
1964 Alaska EarthquakeEXPLAIN
- What kind of tectonic forces caused the 1964 earthquake?
- What other devastating forces where also released by the 9.2 earthquake?
- What are some ways people have since responded to the events of March 27, 1964?
EXTEND
- What stories of the 1964 Earth Quake do your students know?
- What stories do your students' parents and grandparents know?
- How could you use these stories in your classroom?
EXPLORE SOME MORE...
For almost 2000 years, people have attempted to record and measure seismic events, starting with Chinese inventor Zhang Heng (78-139 AD). Over the centuries the designs and information provided by seismometers have evolved, but our very human interest in understanding and predicting earthquakes remains in our determined pursuit of more knowledge and greater safety for humanity. Take a few minutes to view these two TD-videos, The Seismograph and Predicting Earthquakes.
The Seismograph
Predicting EarthquakesEXPLAIN
- How do P and S waves differ?
- What are some practical implications for these differences?
- How might you integrate seismography into other topics or courses you teach?
Module II Redux: The following TD resources were also featured in Module II. They are included again in Module III because of their relevance to both Modules. Check them out again if you'd like a bit an earth science review. Otherwise, skip down to the Google Earth activity next.
Mountain
Maker, Earth Shaker - Interactive. 
Tectonic Plates, Earthquakes and Volcanoes - Interactive
Tectonic Plate Movement in Alaska - TD VideoEXPLORE SOME MORE...
Google Earth - Real-Time Earthquake Monitoring
You can monitor Earth's seismic activity up to the hour by clicking the Add Content feature on Places Menu and selecting Real-Time Earthquakes from the Google Earth gallery of great plug-ins.
EXPLAIN
- Where was the most recent earthquake when you checked?
- What kind of plate boundary exists at the Aleutian Trench?
- What kind of plate boundary is responsible for most earthquakes?
EXTEND
- How could you use Google Earth to make learning geoscience more engaging?
- What other resources could apply to learning about earthquakes?
EVALUATE
- What are the value of these and/or other digital resources for teaching and learning about the Earth and our place on it.
Helpful Hint: Google Earth is a BIG program and usually runs smoother if you limit the number of layers operating on Google Earth at any one time.
