Earth Science: Volcanoes and Earthquakes
Exploring Earth's moving plates, eruptions, and shaking ground
Earth Science: Volcanoes and Earthquakes
Exploring Earth's moving plates, eruptions, and shaking ground
Earth Science - Grade 4-5
- 1
What are tectonic plates, and how can their movement cause earthquakes?
Think about what happens when two rough blocks are stuck together and then suddenly slip.
Tectonic plates are large pieces of Earth's crust that fit together like a giant puzzle. Earthquakes can happen when plates move, push, pull apart, or slide past each other and suddenly release energy. - 2
A volcano erupts and releases lava, ash, and gases. Explain the difference between magma and lava.
Magma is melted rock beneath Earth's surface. Lava is melted rock after it reaches the surface during an eruption. - 3
Circle the place where earthquakes are most likely to happen: the middle of a large tectonic plate or along the edge of a tectonic plate. Explain your choice.
Plate boundaries are places where plates meet and move against each other.
Earthquakes are most likely to happen along the edge of a tectonic plate because plates interact there by colliding, separating, or sliding past each other. - 4
Label the three parts of a volcano in a diagram: crater, vent, and magma chamber. Then write one sentence explaining what one of those parts does.
The crater is the bowl-shaped opening at the top of a volcano. The vent is the path where magma travels upward. The magma chamber is the underground space that holds magma before an eruption. - 5
An earthquake happens under the ocean. What natural hazard can sometimes form if the seafloor suddenly moves upward or downward?
This hazard is a series of large ocean waves.
A tsunami can sometimes form when an underwater earthquake moves the seafloor and pushes a large amount of water. - 6
Put these earthquake events in order from first to last: energy travels as seismic waves, rocks break or slip along a fault, the ground shakes.
First, rocks break or slip along a fault. Next, energy travels as seismic waves. Last, the ground shakes when the seismic waves reach the area. - 7
Why do many volcanoes form near tectonic plate boundaries?
Think about places where plates move apart or one plate sinks under another.
Many volcanoes form near tectonic plate boundaries because plate movement can create cracks, melt rock, or allow magma to rise to the surface. - 8
Look at a safety poster that says, 'Drop, Cover, and Hold On.' Explain what each step means during an earthquake.
Drop means get down to the ground so you do not fall. Cover means protect your head and body under a sturdy table or desk if possible. Hold on means keep holding the shelter until the shaking stops. - 9
A scientist records many small earthquakes in a line across a map. What might this pattern show about the area?
Scientists look for patterns in earthquake locations.
A line of many earthquakes might show the location of a fault or a tectonic plate boundary where movement is happening. - 10
Compare a quiet volcanic eruption and an explosive volcanic eruption. Name one difference between them.
A quiet eruption usually has runny lava that flows more easily. An explosive eruption can blast ash, gases, and rock high into the air. - 11
A town is near an active volcano. List two signs scientists might watch for before an eruption.
Magma moving upward can change the ground and release gases.
Scientists might watch for small earthquakes, swelling of the volcano, more gas coming out, or changes in heat. These signs can show that magma may be moving underground. - 12
Explain why ash from a volcano can be dangerous even if the lava does not reach a town.
Volcanic ash can be dangerous because it can make the air hard to breathe, cover roads and buildings, damage engines, and make water dirty. - 13
Use the map description to answer: Earthquakes are marked around the edges of the Pacific Ocean, near Japan, Alaska, the west coast of North America, and South America. What famous earthquake and volcano zone does this describe?
The name sounds like a circle around the Pacific Ocean.
This describes the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire is an area around the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanoes occur. - 14
A student says, 'Earthquakes only happen when volcanoes erupt.' Is the student correct? Explain your answer.
The student is not correct. Some earthquakes can be related to volcanoes, but many earthquakes happen because tectonic plates move along faults without a volcanic eruption. - 15
Create a simple safety plan for a family that lives in an earthquake area. Include at least three important actions.
Think about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.
A good safety plan could include practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On, keeping emergency supplies such as water and flashlights, choosing a safe meeting place, and knowing how to contact family members after the shaking stops.