Earthquake Educator Guide (Grades 6-12)
Enjoy this comprehensive exhibit guide full of exhibit main ideas, maps, guiding questions, and more! Use the attached guide to plan your field trip to the Academy’s exhibits. Learn about exhibit themes, key concepts and behind-the-scenes information to enhance and guide your students’ experience.
Be Prepared for an Earthquake (Grades K-2)
In this activity, students will learn what to expect during an earthquake and then identify ways to prepare for an earthquake.
What Happens in an Earthquake? (Grades 3-5)
In this activity, students will learn what to expect during an earthquake and practice the actions to take during an earthquake.
Earthquake Preparedness: Thinking Ahead (Grades 3-5)
In this activity, students will identify what objects and places are hazards during an earthquake and learn ways to prepare for an earthquake.
Memories of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake (Grades 3-8)
In order to construct a class book of historical narratives, students will be introduced to oral history, and then interview adults to learn how the 1989.Loma Prieta earthquake affected citizens of the Bay Area.
Measuring Earthquakes (Grades 4-8)
In this lesson, you and your children will learn about the cause of earthquakes and how scientists measure earthquake intensity. You will also build your own seismograph to measure shaking.
Plotting Earthquakes (Grades 4-8)
In this activity, students will learn how to plot earthquakes on a map by exploring recent earthquake activity in California and Nevada.
The History of Geology and Life on Earth (Grades 6-12)
In this scavenger hunt, students will earn about different time points in the history of life on Earth, how the Earth has physically changed over time, and estimate time scales using the length of the Academy a model.
Earthquake Scavenger Hunt (Grades 6-12)
This activity is a ready-made worksheet, scavenger hunt, or sketching exercise that complements one of our exhibit halls. Just download, print, and make copies for your students! Don't forget to set the stage for the activity, and clarify any rules.
Earthquakes and Tectonic Plates (Grades 6-7)
In this activity, students will demonstrate the differences between types of seismic waves and learn how to interpret seismic data using triangulation. Students will also examine how seismic activity and volcanoes are caused by the movement of Earth's plates.
Biogeography (Grades 7-12)
By creating their own biogeographic scenario, students will see that plate tectonics affects the evolution and distribution of organisms we see today. In addition, they will practice constructing a labeled map and a branching diagram to show evolutionary relationships.
Evidence of Evolution (Grades 7-12)
In this scavenger hunt and post-visit activity, students will explore examples of how DNA, fossils, and comparative anatomy can indicate the evolutionary relationship of species.