Measuring Earthquake Strength

CONCEPTUAL

Science›Volcanoes & Earthquakes|Ages 9—11|ID: mt_mdZ3nBWChW

Know that scientists measure earthquakes using seismometers, that earthquakes release energy that travels as waves through the ground, and that a magnitude scale describes their strength

Mastery Evidence

Explain that a seismometer is an instrument that detects and records ground shaking
Describe earthquake energy as waves that travel outward from where rocks broke
Interpret a magnitude number as a measure of an earthquake's strength

Assessment Prompt

“If [child] heard a news report about a magnitude 6 earthquake, could they explain what a seismometer is, that earthquakes send waves through the ground, and that higher numbers mean stronger quakes?”

Prerequisites2

Ring of Fire
softAges 7—9
Why Earthquakes Happen
hardAges 7—9

Show full prerequisite tree

Ring of Fire soft
Measuring earthquakes benefits from knowing where they occur
- Fast & Slow Earth Changes soft
  Pattern mapping benefits from knowing Earth's surface changes
  - What Is an Earthquake soft
    Quick/slow changes concept benefits from earthquake as example of quick change
  - What Is a Volcano soft
    Quick/slow changes concept benefits from volcano as example of quick change
- What Is an Earthquake hard
  Mapping earthquake patterns requires knowing what earthquakes are
- Shapes of land and water soft
  Mapping volcano/earthquake patterns benefits from knowing about landforms like mountains and valleys
  - Seasonal changes soft
    Seasonal observation supports understanding land and water features
    - Days, Weeks, Months & Years soft
      Observing and describing seasonal changes requires basic date and time vocabulary (months, seasons, year)
      - Ordering Events in Time hard
        Understanding days/months/years builds on sequencing events chronologically
- Why Earthquakes Happen soft
  Mapping patterns benefits from understanding earthquake causes
  - What Is an Earthquake hard
    Understanding earthquake causes builds on knowing what an earthquake is
- What Is a Volcano hard
  Mapping volcano patterns requires knowing what volcanoes are
Why Earthquakes Happen hard
Measuring earthquakes requires understanding what causes them
- What Is an Earthquake hard
  Understanding earthquake causes builds on knowing what an earthquake is

Unlocks2

Seismic Waves & Earth's Interior
hardAges 11—13
Earthquake-Resistant Design
hardAges 9—11