Earthquake Lab Activity NGSS 4-ESS2-2, NGSS 4-ESS3-2 and NGSS 4-ESS1-1

Teaching students about earthquakes can be interesting!  There is so much to teach them about the science around earthquakes.

I like to make sure the understand a little about plate tectonics and then I like to teach them about faults, seismic waves, magnitude and more.  

After I have given them some background information or had students explore with QR codes and a WebQuest, I like to give them an engineering challenge. Build a structure out of toothpicks and marshmallows that can withstand the shaking and movement of an earthquake.

Make some jello and allow it to become firm. 

Let the students design their building.

 Test the building with shaking.

Redesign the building and test again.

 Discuss what worked and what did not work.  Have student read some informational text about earthquakes and complete interactive notebook flaps. 

If you would like to see the complete unit with a slide show, nonfiction text, lab pages, interactive notebook flaps, response pages, answer keys and sorting cards...I have done the planning for you here.

Earthquake Unit

Complete Earthquake Unit NGSS for 4th Grade

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