Earthquake & Tsunami Investigation | Mapping & CER Lab

The Description

A tsunami has struck Sumatra. The evidence is messy. The interns are waiting. Congratulations: you've been promoted to Director of the Earthquake Hazards Program. (No raise. But the interns are enthusiastic.) This earthquake and tsunami investigation puts students in charge of figuring out what caused a fictional disaster, whether it could happen again, and what the public should know.

Instead of plotting coordinates because it's Tuesday, students have a mystery worth solving. They use mapping, earthquake evidence, plate tectonics, and scientific reasoning to make and defend a claim.

What Students Will Do

Students investigate possible causes, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and meteorite impacts; plot latitude and longitude evidence; examine earthquake locations and plate boundaries; and evaluate explanations against the data. They develop a claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) explanation and create a Public Safety Announcement about future hazards.

Why This Resource Is Different

I don't hand students the cause of the tsunami at the beginning. Where's the investigation in that? The clues unfold through memos and evidence so students must decide what fits. The investigation also stands alone or connects to my Epicenter Triangulation and Earthquake Mapping labs. In fact, the epicenters students locate in the companion triangulation lab become evidence for this storyline. Three resources, one bigger scientific mystery.

What's Included?

• Editable student investigation materials and student memos

• Teacher guide with implementation and suggested pacing

• PowerPoint slides

• Tsunami investigation and plate-boundary maps

• Earthquake data option for use without a separate triangulation lab

• CER assessment and rubric

• Public Safety Announcement project and rubric

The Details

Grades 7–10; Earth Science, plate tectonics, and natural hazards. NGSS connection: MS-ESS2-2. Flexible standalone investigation or connected earthquake storyline. Check the preview for the memos, evidence, and public-safety task. You bring the interns; I'll bring the natural disaster.