Lesson 11 of 84 · Earth's History
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🌋 Rock RealmEarthquakes: When the Ground Shakes
Earth's History.
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
Today's mountain was yesterday's ocean floor.
Mind = Blown
🪨 Every grain of sand on every beach used to be a mountain.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: where will the water go first?
What You'll Learn
Earthquakes happen when stress builds up along faults in Earth's crust and suddenly releases. Seismic waves radiate from the focus, shaking the ground.
Key Words
- erosion
- sediment
Materials Needed
- magnifying glass
- newspaper
- spray bottle
- cups
- thermometer
Safety First
- Keep small objects away from young children.
- Work in a well-ventilated area when using vinegar or other strong-smelling substances.
- Dispose of materials properly after the experiment.
Steps
Read about Earth's History and write down three key facts.
Test rock hardness using Mohs scale: try scratching rocks with your fingernail, a penny, and a nail. Rank them from softest to hardest.
Look for patterns in your observations.
Make a graph or chart showing your results.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What is an aquifer?
Where you see this in real life
This is shaping the ground you walk on, slowly, every single day.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Find a rock outside and try to guess how old it is.
For the dinner table
“What's the slowest change you can think of?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Earth's History for 4th Grade
Get the full Earth's History track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.