There are many resources available online to help students, parents, and teachers learn about why earthquakes happen and the effects they have on people and natural and built environments. Below are several useful resources from CUSEC partners that focus on earthquake education and classroom projects. Please feel free to browse through them and let us know if you find a resource that others may find useful.
Resources for Students
Seismic Monitor
Near real-time map showing earthquakes that happen throughout the world. Click on the earthquakes to find out more information about an individual event. Earthquake data is provided from official sources such as the USGS National Earthquake Information Center located in Golden, Colorado.
Earthquake Science Fair Project Ideas
Are you interested in earthquakes and looking for a good science fair project idea? Our partners at IRIS have compiled several different project ideas including:
- Plotting Earthquake Epicenters,
- Forecasting Earthquakes,
- Building a Seismometer, and
- Build Your Own Earthquake Machine.
Each project includes an outline, materials list, and procedures you’ll need to consider when creating your project.
Resources for Teachers
Earth Science Toolkits for Teachers
Earth Science Week (ESW) Toolkits are designed to make teaching earth science easy, fun and educational for you and your students. Resources included are appropriate at various levels, for everyone from elementary students to the general public. Click here to find out more and to place an order for a toolkit.
Recent Earthquake Teachable Moments
Have you heard about the latest big earthquake or tsunami in the news? Use this great resource from the Incorporated Research Institutes for Seismology (IRIS) to turn an earthquake into a teachable moment. In addition to presentations and information in multiple languages, there is also data provided for research scientists or students studying seismology.
New Madrid Seismic Zone Animations
These animations, compiled by IRIS, the US Geological Survey, and other organizations show different aspects of the New Madrid Seismic Zone including effects of the 1811-12 New Madrid sequence earthquakes, New Madrid geology, seismology of the region, and more. More than 10 short animations are provided on this page.
