Earth to Class

Earthquake Lesson - Clare Kennedy and Carol Zepatos

Lesson Topic: One of the Largest Earthquakes in NJ (1783)

Lesson Objectives:

1.The student will be able to identify the year in which the largest recorded earthquake

took place in New Jersey.

2.The student will be able to locate the three major faults in the NJ.

3.The student will be able to differentiate the two scales utilized to determine the

strength of earthquakes; namely the Mercalli scale (for intensity) and the Richter

scale (for magnitude)

4.The student will be able to conclude whether the record of the 1783 earthquake was a

direct or an indirect measurement.

Outline of Lesson

I. Presentation of Historical Background

A. 1783

B. largest recorded Earthquake

C. Fault lines in NJ

1. Franklin

2. Piedmont

3. Ramapo

D. Scales

1. Mercalli

2. Richter

II. Completion of the Student Worksheet

A. Links available to student

1. http://science.howstuffworks.com/earthquake4.htm

2. http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/intensity.html

3. http://eqhaz.map.usgs.gov

4. http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/states/new_jersey_history.html

B. Bibliography of students to include 3 internet resources different than those above.

C. Application Paragraph for this topic

III. Assessment:

Student worksheet will be assessed using the attached rubric generated from

Rubistar.com

NJ Core Content Standards:

This lesson is in fulfillment of Science Standard 5.8 (Earth Science) Grade 12 Strand C.1

Student Worksheet

Name ___________________________ Date _________________________

Course _________________ Section ______

The Earthquake that Rocked New Jersey!!!

You might not think of your home state as the hot zone of earth shaking events, but in 1783 the inhabitants of New Jersey got quite a rockin’. Using the websites provided as a starting point for your internet research into this topic, answer the following questions. You must seek out, use, and cite three additional internet sources that you find on your own. Your bibliography must follow MLA style and must contain at least three internet sources that are not included in the following list:

1. http://science.howstuffworks.com/earthquake4.htm

2. http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/intensity.html

3. http://eqhaz.map.usgs.gov

4. http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/states/new_jersey/new_jersey_history.html

Earthquakes are described by their magnitude and intensity. There are two commonly used scales; Richter and Mercalli. Compare and contrast these two types of earthquake measurements. (http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/intensity.html)

Earthquakes appear at Faults in the surface of the crust. What is a fault?

_______________________________________________________________

Find the names and locations of the three major faults found in New Jersey.

(http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/states/new_jersey/new_jersey_history.html )

__________________________________________________________________

Classify each of the preceding faults as to TYPE and briefly describe the characteristics associated with each type.

__________________________________________________________________

Has there been any recent activity at any of these faults?

__________________________________________________________________

What rating was given to the 1783 NJ Earthquake on each of the following scales?

___________________________________ (Mercalli)

___________________________________ (Richter)

5. In 1783, no seismograph was available in New Jersey to record this event. How was this measurement determined? (look at your answers for #4. Who came up with this number? How did they come up with this number if no equipment was there to record it at the time?)

__________________________________________________________________

6. Scientific knowledge is not only interesting, it often has a practical application that improves the quality of human life. Using the information that you have researched to complete this worksheet, describe a current REAL LIFE situation in which this information would be useful. (Minimum one half page in 12 pt. Times New Roman font, single-spaced)

7. Bibliography: please complete a bibliography that includes three internet sources not already listed in this worksheet. These must be in MLA format and be word processed along with your essay answer to question #6.



Research Report : New Jersey Earthquakes



Teacher Name:


Student Name: ________________________________________

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Earthquake Worksheet	Worksheet is submitted on time. All questions are complete, all answers are factual.	Worksheet is submitted on time. All questions are complete. There are less than two errors.	Worksheet is submitted on time. All questions are complete. There are more than two errors.	Worksheet is submitted on time. One or more questions have not been completed.
Sources	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented in the desired format. Three or more resources have been used.	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but a few are not in the desired format. Three or more resources have been used.	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but many are not in the desired format. Two resources have been used	Some sources are not accurately documented. Less than two resources have been used.
Paragraph Construction	All paragraphs include introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence.	Most paragraphs include introductory sentence, explanations or details, and concluding sentence.	Paragraphs included related information but were typically not constructed well.	Paragraphing structure was not clear and sentences were not typically related within the paragraphs.
Mechanics	No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.	Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors	A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.	Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.

Date Created: Apr 30, 2005 07:09 pm (CDT)