Earthquake Challenge: Shake and Break

This resource, published by Georgia Tech Research Institute, features a science and data visualization activity designed for sixth graders. In this activity, students plot spatial and temporal earthquake data to make recommendations on where to build a new cell phone manufacturing plant in Northern California. The module reinforces the importance of looking at a broad data set and covers basic concepts of seismology, plate tectonics, and earth's structure. Students will:

• Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to show how Earth’s surface is formed.

The activity is divided into five sections that last four class periods. The prep guide includes materials needed, planning, key questions and concepts, and grading opportunities for each section of the activity. The resource includes the following:

• An 26-page curriculum booklet with an annotated teacher's version
• A 7-page teacher's prep guide
• Materials list
• Supply checklist
• A 19-page student worksheet packet
• Nine Earthquake maps
• Two videos providing context around earthquakes and drawing water from the earth