Lesson Plan #8

Subject(s): _____Earthquakes and Earths Interior_____ Date: ___11/19/15___

Teacher: ________Ana Rodriguez ________ School: ______CSUDH_____
1. Objective (What is the topic of discussion and reason for learning?)
The topic of this discussion is about the study of earthquakes and the earths interior.
We are going to learn about the different kind of waves because it is important to know
how we locate and know where the earthquake came from. Aside from that, we will be
learning how to measure the distance from the epicenter and determine at what time the
earthquake has occurred.
2. Learning Target(s): (What will students know & be able to do as a result of this
lesson?)
Students will be able to examine an earthquake seismogram and identify the P waves, S
waves, and surface waves.
Students will be able to use a seismogram and travel-time graph to measure the
distance to the epicenter of an earthquake and determine the time it occurred.
Students will be able to list the name, thickness, and state of matter of each of Earths
layers.
Students will be able to describe the temperature gradient in Earths interior.
Students will be able to explain the asthenosphere likely consists of very weak
material.
What should a student completing this section know and understand (include: Terms,
Topics, etc.)
Earthquake, a ground shaking caused by the sudden and rapid movement of one block
of rock slipping past another along fractures in Earths crust called faults.
Energy generated by an earthquake radiates outward in the form of seismic waves from
the source of the quake, called the hypocenter, or focus.
Three basic types of seismic waves generated by an earthquake are P waves, S waves,
and surface waves.
P and S waves travel through earths interior; surface waves are transmitted along the
surface.
Seismographs are instruments that detect and record seismic waves.
Recordings made by seismographs are seismograms.
Seismograms are used to determine the time and location of earthquakes.
Epicenter, the toping on earths surface directly above the hypocenter.
The zone of greatest seismic activity, circum-Pacific belt, encompasses the coastal
regions of Chile, Central America, Indonesia, Japan, and Alaska, including the Aleutian
island.
Three compositionally distinct layers: the crust, mantle, and core.
The crust is Earths relatively thin, rocky out skin. (continental crust has an average
composition of a granitic rock called granodiorite; oceanic crust is composed of mafic

(basaltic) rocks)
Mantle, more than 82% of Earths volume is contained in here, a solid, rocky shell
made of ultramafic rocks that extends to a depth of about 2900 km (1800 mi)
Lithosphere, consists of the entire crust and uppermost mantle and forms earths
relatively cool, rigid outer shell that averages about 100 km (62 mi) in thickness
Asthenosphere, beneath the stiff lithosphere to a depth of about 350 km (200 mi) lies a
soft, weak layer known as the asthenosphere
Outer core is a liquid layer 2270 km (1410 mi) thick that is composed mainly of an
iron-nickel alloy.
Inner core is a solid sphere with a radius of 1216 km (754 mi)and like the outer core, it
is composed mainly of an iron-nickel alloy
3. Relevance/Rationale: (Why are the outcomes of this lesson important in the real world?
How will it benefit students to know this topic?)
This lesson is very important because we live in California, and California is one of the
places where there are earthquakes. Students know how to protect themselves when an
earthquake hits, but it would be great if they knew the actual information on how to
evaluate one themselves.
4. Formative Assessment Criteria for success: (How will you & your students know if
they have successfully met the outcomes? By what criteria will they be assessed?)
For each section that the students do, I will follow them up with review questions.
Students will also share what they know and have learned with their fellow classmates.
Sometimes students learn better among each other. Students will also have an exam at
the end of the lesson to see how much knowledge they have gained.
Follow up questions:
What are the three types of waves? P waves, S waves, surface waves
Which wave does not travel through liquid? S waves
Which wave does not travel through the outer core, and why? S waves because they do
not travel through liquid
5. Activities/Tasks: (What learning experiences will students engage in?)
Students will be engaged in the classroom by working on classwork, such as
worksheets. They will also be provided with mini labs and will be collaborating with
their group members. Aside from those assignments, the students will also have some
homework that will encourage them to share their thoughts with their loved ones and
gain more interest in learning the topic. Lastly, they students will write a brief
reflection paper on their experience of an earthquake; for those who have never
experienced one, they will have to use their imagination and explain what they believe
it may feel experimenting an earthquake.
6. Resources/Materials: (What texts, digital resources, & Materials will be used in this
lesson?)
What Is An Earthquake? | The Dr. Binocs Show | Learn Series For Kids
***https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJpIU1rSOFY
What to do during an Earthquake FINAL https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Eo5VNFTDJoU
What is an Earthquake? Facts & Information | Mocomi Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlePrsXTGxQ
Lab manual, drawing compass, colored pencils, ruler