Earthquake Explorers Assignment 1

 Each student has a new book for their Earthquake Explorers unit and the following instructions:

 

Earthquake Explorers: Shake, Rattle, and Quake!

Have you ever felt the floor below you shake? The ground we walk on seems solid — until an earthquake strikes. Suddenly the earth heaves and slides. Things topple off shelves. Deep cracks open in the ground where none were before. In the past few years, people everywhere have witnessed these events as major earthquakes struck their countries. The activity below will help you better understand how earthquakes affect people around the world.

Choose a partner. Imagine that you are both investigative reporters. You have been asked to write a news story about a major earthquake that really occurred. Your news story must give your audience enough information to understand how earthquakes work and to visualize the destruction earthquakes cause. Remember that your story should also answer who, what, where, when, why and how.

Research your earthquake thoroughly. Answer the questions below to help organize your information:

PART A Students all have a planning proforma

Earthquake Information
When did the earthquake take place?

      Where did the earthquake happen?
      Describe the places, the people who live there, and the types of buildings that are found there.
      What happened to the places during the earthquake?

      Why did the earthquake happen? Describe the type of land formations in the area.

      Describe the recovery efforts, and how people are preparing for possible future earthquakes.

 

Use your answers to help you write your story. Then review what you have written. Make sure your work includes enough detailed information to explain what happened during these events.

PART B

Create storyboards to illustrate your news story. Choose the most interesting parts of the story and create pictures to highlight these parts. If available, use a drawing or painting program to create your storyboards.

PART C

Present your news story and storyboards to your classmates as if you were broadcasting your story on the evening news. Make sure you pay close attention to your classmates' stories as they may help you present your own.

This is a link to a page describing the world’s biggest earthquakes:

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/the-10-biggest-earthquakes-in-recorded-history.htm

and here is another page listing earthquakes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_earthquakes

Here is a sample of a quick one I started to give them the general idea of storyboards, we will be discussing what's missing i.e a map of Australia, what other pictures could be added, and how should the events be sequenced.