This morning’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan provides an opportunity to incorporate current world news into a science lesson. Here are some resources for teaching about earthquakes and tsunamis.
IRIS, Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, has compiled some good resources for teaching about the science of the earthquake in Japan and earthquakes in general. Included in their lists are videos, slideshows, animations, and links to lesson plans. Here is one animation that illustrates how the DART tsunami warning system works. The videos are animated and narrated explanations of the science of earthquakes.
The USGS produces a good assortment of resources for teaching and learning about earthquakes. The USGS has resources for teachers and for students on every grade level from elementary school through college. Not included in the teachers resource section, but including in the general education page, are these flash animations of earthquakes and seismic activities. For Google Earth users the USGS produces Google Earth files for viewing earthquakes. One set of Google Earth files that the USGS produces allows you to view seismic activity in near-real time (the file refreshes every five minutes).
Stop Disasters is a game designed for students to learn about natural disasters, disaster prevention, and city design. There are five game scenarios that students can play. Students can plan to prepare for hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and tsunamis. The scenarios are set in geographically accurate contexts of Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean.
