Lesson 81 of 84 ยท Plate Tectonics
Experimentโญ 30 XPEarthquakes: When the Ground Shakes (Part 3)
Plate Tectonics.
๐ฏ Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
โก The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
๐ฌ The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
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
- barometer
- anemometer
Materials Needed
- clay
- water
- plastic tray
- magnifying glass
- newspaper
Safety First
- Adult supervision recommended.
Steps
Read about Plate Tectonics 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 shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week โ even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
โWhat's the most surprising thing you learned today?โ
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 Plate Tectonics for 6th Grade
Get the full Plate Tectonics track as a printable PDF โ all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.
