• 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Visualizations — This collection presents links to images, films, panoramas and animations about the earthquake and fire. (Carleton College/NAGT materials)
• A Comparison of Two Bay Area Earthquakes: 1989 v. 1906 — Investigate the shaking intensity and magnitude of these two earthquakes. (USGS)
• Continental Drift — investigate the plate motions given various clues to past configurations (DiscoverySchool.com)
• Demonstrations of Geophysical Principles Applicable to the Properties and Processes of the Earth’s Interior — demonstrations with photos and graphics (SUNY Binghamton)
• Designing Structures to Perform Well During an Earthquake — discussion and lesson plans (Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER))
• Discover Our Earth — Portal for teachers and students for learn the basics about earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, topography, and sea level changes. (USGS & DLESE)
• Earth Science Education Activities — a wealth of excellent hands-on activities for teaching about earthquakes, volcanoes, seismic waves, plate tectonics, earth structure, seismic waves, convection, seismometers and more! (Purdue Univ.)
• Earth Science Lessons — lessons developed by an elementary school teacher, but good for all ages, slide-style with color diagrams and photographs (Oregon State University)
• Earthquake Education Services — lesson plans, information on Wasatch Front (Univ. of Utah)
• Earthquake Practice Quiz — online quiz (Florida Intl. Univ.)
• Earthquake Unit — six challenges with lesson plans, online activities, and links to resources about the basics, earthquake probabilities, preparedness, earthquakes in the past, and seismic waves (San Francisco USD)
• Earthquakes & All Shook Up — design and build an earthquake-proof structure (Newton’s Apple)
• Educational Activities — Origami, building models, historical seismologists (New Mexico Bureau of Mines & Resources)
• EQ Fear (PDF) — make a list of common fears and address each one (USGS)
• EQ Kit Treasure Hunt (PDF) — hide EQ kit items around classroom or school and have a treasure hunt (USGS)
• EQ Myths (PDF) — investigate EQ myths; what myths exist and why do people believe them (USGS)
• EQ Plan (PDF) — discuss a plan for what to do if there is an EQ; especially good for schools in EQ-prone areas (USGS)
• EQs on the Surface (PDF) — use topo maps, seismicity maps, and fault maps to understand the connection between the surface features, locations of EQs and mapped faults (USGS)
• Evidence for Plate Tectonics-Teaching Box — Collection of interrelated learn concepts that focuses on finding the evidence for plate tectonics using digital resources, education standards, and comprehensive lesson plans. (DLESE)
• Exploring Earthquakes in Space and Time Through the Internet and GIS — GIS-related earthquake lesson plan (USGS & Rocky Mountain Mapping Center)
• Fault Features (PDF) — a pan, dirt and some fabric create a model to demonstrate surface features of faults, use the Wallace Creek trail guide to see real fault features, or take a field trip (USGS)
• Forces of Nature — companion to the “Forces of Nature” IMAX movie about Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Hurricanes and Tornadoes; interactive learn plus lesson plans for the classroom (National Geographic)
• Forces of Nature — Teacher Study Guides — These study guides are mean to complement the giant_screen film “Forces of Nature” (Destination Cinema)
• Getting Ready for the Big One — stigate types of earthquake waves and their effects (DiscoverySchool.com)
• GSA Free Teacher Resources — A good resource for educators that includes lesson plans, info on state standards, awards, and reading suggestions (Geological Society of America)
• How to Build a Model Illustrating Sea-Floor Spreading and Subduction — USGS Open File Report 99-132 (online) This report describes how to build a model of the outer 300 km (180 miles) of the Earth that can be used to develop a better understanding of the principal features of plate tectonics, including sea-floor spreading, the pattern of magnetic stripes frozen into the sea floor, transform faulting, thrust faulting, subduction, and volcanism. (USGS)
• Human Wave (PDF) — learn about the motions of P & S waves with a fun participating exercise (USGS)
• Ideas for Activities Using Live Seismograms — ideas for how to use real-time earthquake information in the classroom (USGS Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory)
• Investigating Earthquakes Through Regional Seismicity — excellent graphics, animations and activities (Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) & USGS)
• Isoseismal Maps (PDF) — learn the difference between intensity and magnitude and gain experience with contouring on maps (USGS)
• John Lahr’s Earthquake website — Collection of the author’s own activities and publications, and links to other useful tidbits. Especially useful if you have your own seismometer, or want to build one. (USGS Emeritus)
• Journey to the Center of the Earth — Created by 100 5th grade students (John F. Pattie Elementary)
• Large Plate Puzzle (PDF) — cut a large world map into puzzle pieces along plate boundaries, students discuss individually land then for the whole map after the class puts pieces together; simple but powerful, discussion Q/A included (USGS)
• Living in Earthquake Country-Teaching Box — Explores how and why earthquakes cause damage, seismic waves, the ability of scientists to predict the likelihood and severity of earthquakes at specific locations, the difference between magnitude and intensity, the occurrence of earthquakes along patches of planar faults, and the potential damage caused by earthquakes such as landslides, liquefaction, or structural failure. (DLESE)
• Living in Earthquake Country: A Teaching Box — 7 lessons with the goal of teaching students about how and why earthquakes cause damage. Explores seismic waves, the ability of scientists to predict the likelihood and severity of earthquakes at specific locations, the difference between magnitude and intensity, the occurrence of earthquakes along patches of planar faults, and the potential damage caused by earthquakes such as landslides, liquefaction, or structural failure. (DLESE)
• Magnitude versus Intensity Lesson (PDF) — classroom lesson to teach the difference between earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensities (USGS)
• Mantle Motions (PDF) — students act out various mantle motions in a game of fast thinking (USGS)
• MARGINS Education & Outreach Resources — Mini-lessons, powerpoint presentations, research nuggets and more. (MARGINS – Lamont-Doherty)
• MegaQuakes/Earthquake Simulator — dial up an earthquake and see the results (Incorporated Research Institutes for Seismology (IRIS))
• Musical Plates — use realtime data to plot earthquakes and solve problems (New Jersey Networking Infrastructure in Education)
• PBJ Fault (PDF) — demonstrate the different types of faults with a PBJ sandwich, and then eat it double-decker (USGS)
• Plate Tectonic Movement Visualizations — Visualizations and supporting material that can be used effectively to teach students about plate tectonic movements. Visualizations include simple animations, GIS-based animated maps, paleogeographic maps and globes, as well as numerous illustrations and photos. (Carleton College/NAGT materials)
• Plot that Quake! — lesson plan for using the Internet to plot earthquakes over time (Berkeley)
• Potato Topo (PDF) — use a potato to make a 3-D ‘topo map’ and understand how it can be represented on a 1-D map, gain experience of maps and scales (USGS)
• Remote-Sensing Seismic Activities — you are the planner, and you have to consider the earthquake hazards and risks (Montgomery Cty Public Schools)
• Shake, Rattle, and Slide — Lessons, activities, and slide shows about earthquakes, volcanoes, and glaciers. (University of Illinois Extension)
• Shakes & Quakes — Legos and earthquakes (Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI))
• Soil & Earthquakes — explains liquefaction (Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER))
• Surfing for Earthquakes and Volcanoes — lesson plan using Internet (Berkeley)
• TASA Graphic Arts, Inc. — Plate Tectonics and How the Earth Works, The Theory of Plate Tectonics CDROMS, and more you can order (TASA Graphic Arts, Inc.)
• The Wave that Shook the World — Online companion to the NOVA broadcast with excellent animations, Q&anmp;A, images, and lesson plans for teachers. (PBS-NOVA)
• Toilet Paper Geologic Time Scale (PDF) — use toilet paper to understand the enormous extent of geologic time compared to recent time; timeline included (USGS)
• Tracking Earthquakes Around the World — plot earthquakes on map using Internet resources (DiscoverySchool.com)
• Understanding Tsunamis — learn about tsunamis with a model (DiscoverySchool.com)
• USGS and Science Education, The — webpages, links, booklets, maps, fact sheets, classroom lessons, etc. online and to order, mostly free (USGS)
• UTIG : GK-12 Program — lesson plans for earthquakes, tsunamis, plate tectonics, and more (Univ. of Texas, Austin)
• Visualizations of Geologic Hazards — Visualizing the Earth, its processes, and its evolution through time is a fundamental aspect of geoscience. The use of visualizations – diagrams, images, animations, maps, and more – is an essential tool in helping students to visualize the Earth and its processes. (Carleton College/NAGT materials)
• Volcano World’s Activities for Plate Tectonics — slide-style coverage of the basics (Oregon State University)
• Who Dunit? and the Law of Superposition (PDF) — solve a crime, and then use those same skills to understand the Law of Superposition (older layers of the earth on bottom) with a fun WhoDunit? investigation and then use your skills to solve a geological mystery (USGS)
• Xpeditions: Earthquakes & Volcanoes — Compare plate tectonic maps with population density maps, and analyze what these maps imply about population and seismic hazards. (National Geographic)
• National Earthquake Information Center – NEIC The goal of the NEIC is to rapidly disseminate information on all destructive earthquakes. Teachers can use the information contained in this website to create an earthquake safety lesson plan for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university level students.
• Learn from the Past, Prepare for the Future This lesson plan demonstrates the importance of previous earthquakes for future preparedness. This classroom activity can easily be adapted for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university level students.
• Musical Plates This lesson plan has a classroom activity that involves creating a map project to find the location of different earthquakes and relating this to plate tectonics. This lesson plan can be used for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university level students.
• Earthquake Education and Resources Here is a lesson plan that gives a good demonstration about earthquakes. This classroom activity deals with different aspects about faults. This project is appropriate for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university level students with minor modifications.
• Education World This earthquake lesson plan involves classroom activities that help students identify epicenters and magnitude readings. This lesson plan is useful for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university students.
• Earthquakes WebQuest This lesson plan allows students the chance to explore earthquakes through classroom activities. This project can be used to inform elementary, secondary, middle school, and university level students.
• You Don’t Need a Seismograph to Study Earthquakes This Lesson plan allows students to simulate S & P waves through classroom activities. This demonstration is a helpful strategy to educate elementary, secondary, middle school, and university students.
• Earthquake Slip Classroom Exercise This lesson plan demonstrates stick-slip or elastic rebound theory through a classroom project. This classroom activity would be useful for helping elementary, secondary, middle school, and university students understand this concept.
• Inquiry Lesson for Earth Science This lesson plan gives students the ability to investigate a certain topic, create a project and demonstrate their findings. This classroom activity will take a bit of time and can be adapted for elementary, secondary, middle school, and university students.

Lessons On Radiation & Nuclear Energy

• Nuclear Lesson Plans
• Radiation Terminology “Nuclear Reactor Concepts” Workshop Manual, U.S. NRC.
• Dose Standards and Methods for Protection Against Radiation and Contamination “Nuclear Reactor Concepts” Workshop Manual, U.S. NRC.
• Biological Effects of Radiation “Nuclear Reactor Concepts” Workshop Manual, U.S. NRC.
• Nuclear Power for Energy Generation “Nuclear Reactor Concepts” Workshop Manual, U.S. NRC
• Low-level Nuclear Waste: A Geographic Analysis – Nat’l Geographic
• The Fission Process and Heat Production “Nuclear Reactor Concepts” Workshop Manual, U.S. NRC
• Boiling Water Reactor Systems “Nuclear Reactor Concepts” Workshop Manual, U.S. NRC
• Pressurized Water Reactor Systems “Nuclear Reactor Concepts” Workshop Manual, U.S. NRC

Classroom Activities on Radiation & Nuclear Energy

• The Cloud Chamber
• Using a Geiger Counter
• Personal Radiation Dose
• Power Plant Diagram – Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
• Power Plant Diagram – Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)
• Nuclear Waste Cube

Source: USGS, NRC

Add Your Resources

Do you know of some other resources about these topics? Add them in the comments so everyone can see them. Thank you in advance.