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Overview:
The purpose of this lesson is to understand earthquakes, using the case study of the 1995 earthquake in the port city of Kobe, Japan. In the first activity, students learn about causes and effects of earthquakes, and explore why some locations on Earth are more prone to earthquakes than others. In the second activity, students learn about the earthquake in Kobe and use it as a case study to understand earthquake cause, effect, recovery, and preparedness. Students learn about the devastation that the people of Kobe endured as a result of this force of nature. In the closing activity, students use their research on the Kobe earthquake to create an earthquake preparedness brochure.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, earth science
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 7: "The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth’s surface"
Time:
Two hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet access
- Several pieces of paper per student
- Scotch tape
- Colored markers or pencils
- Copies of the handout: Triangle of Knowledge (PDF, Adobe Reader required)
Objectives:
Students will
- build on their prior knowledge of earthquakes to learn about the geological forces that caused the 1995 Kobe earthquake; and
- organize and analyze information to understand earthquake cause, effect, and recovery, and to advise others on earthquake preparedness.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Guiding Question: What are the causes and effects of earthquakes, such as the one in Kobe, Japan, and what steps can people take toward recovery and future preparedness?
Try this first!
Ask students what they know about earthquakes. Brainstorm with students what causes an earthquake. List places where earthquakes have occurred. Write their ideas on the board.
Have students view the National Geographic Earthquake 101 video for an overview of earthquakes.
Development:
Activity 1:
In this activity, students learn about causes and effects of earthquakes, and explore why some locations on Earth are more prone to earthquakes than others.
Directions:
1. Introduce students to earthquakes by having them explore the Earthquake section of the National Geographic Forces of Nature online interactive. Tell students to go through the entire interactive to learn the causes and effects of earthquakes.
2. As they explore the interactive, have students identify and define new terms in writing. These should include: earthquake, epicenter, fault, hypocenter, magnitude, plates, plate tectonics, seismic shock waves, seismograph, and seismologists.
3. As a class, discuss what students learned about earthquakes. Review the definitions in the context of the discussion. Ask students what link they can make between the causes and locations of major earthquakes. Should people live in locations that are vulnerable to earthquakes? How do they think that knowing where earthquakes are more likely to occur helps the people who live there prepare?
Activity 2:
In this activity, students learn about the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan, and use it as a case study to understand earthquake causes, effects, recovery, and preparedness.
Directions:
1. Have each student create a "triangle of knowledge" using two pieces of paper and scotch tape. Students should follow the instructions on the Triangle of Knowledge Handout (PDF, Adobe Reader required)
Instruct students to write Earthquake on the base of the triangle. For each triangle flap, have the students write Cause, Effect, Recovery, and Preparedness.
Next, have students complete their triangles of knowledge by doing library or Internet research for each of the four topics on the triangle flaps. Have students start by reading the case study of Kobe on the Forces of Nature site. Some other online resources include National Geographic’s Environment site and the Earthquakes section of the U.S. Geological Survey.
2. After students have completed their triangles of knowledge, have them write a summary paragraph for each of the subtopics. Students should use at least five of the following key vocabulary words in their writing: earthquake, epicenter, fault, hypocenter, magnitude, plates, plate tectonics, seismic shock waves, seismograph, and seismologists.
Closing:
In the closing activity, students use their research on the Kobe earthquake to create an earthquake preparedness brochure.
1. Distribute blank paper and colored markers or pencils. Tell students to create an earthquake preparedness brochure based on their earthquake research. Students should use a combination of text and illustrations to explain how earthquakes happen, the damage they can cause, and ways in which people can minimize their impact before and during a quake.
2. Have students display their brochures and allow their classmates time to view them.
3. Then, hold a class discussion on the ways in which the Kobe earthquake might have been different if the people had been better prepared. Include in your discussion how location, ground type, and building methods factored into the impact of the Kobe earthquake, and how they might be improved.
This lesson was adapted from a lesson developed by DC Geographic Alliance Teacher Consultant Lola A. Boxley for Geography Action! Asia.
Suggested Student Assessment:
Assess students on the accuracy and thoroughness of their brochures, their correct use of vocabulary, and their creativity.
Extending the Lesson:
Challenge students to research other historical and current earthquakes around the globe. Have students compare their researched earthquake with the earthquake in Kobe, Japan. Ask students to consider the locations of these earthquakes and how they might relate to human settlement and population distribution. Encourage them to look at the vocabulary words to clearly identify similarities and differences.
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