Earthquakes are a common occurrence in California. In this Lab, students will learn and play with plate tectonics - the mechanism that drives Earthquakes! Learn about the basic plate boundaries, formation of mountains, and how to identify a fault line on land! They are in for a challenge as they compete via our building games. The students are in for a magnitude of Earth Science experiences!

Earthquake Building Lab

Lesson Centers

Lesson Centers

  • After a brief introduction, students will be introduced to plate tectonics, plate movement, the 3 essential plate boundary types, and fault lines. Students will learn about the deformation of land masses into mountains. Students will learn about the LA and Inland Empire Compression zones of the San Andreas Fault system. Local mountains will be used to engage prior knowledge about landscapes and frame earthquakes as a release of built up energy over time.

  • Students will master their fine motor skills with our Shake Table Jenga Games, where they will need the precision of a surgeon to keep their building up in an earthquake! Changes to structural integrity and height will affect stability in this dynamic challenge!

  • Modern structures include extra bracing to help with an earthquake, but in this activity, students will try their hand at innovative solutions using standard wood blocks. Will a wide foundation help in an earthquake? Who can make a tall tower resilient? Prepare future designers for the unpredictable in this building activity.

  • Students will collaborate to design, create, and test structures on our shake tables. They’ll need to use every bit of their creativity, and modern advances like sheer walls, to survive the craziest of quakes!

    1. Student time -Approximately 3 hours, this is perfect for 3 separate groups of ~24 students, or an after school program.

      Set up time - 1 Hour is needed prior to first students’/ class arrival.

    2. CA NGSS Standards

      1- PS4-1 through 3: Cause and Effect

      3-ESS3-1 Cause and Effect § Cause and effect relationships

      4-ESS2-2 / ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions

      4-ESS3.B: Natural Hazards

    3. Lab Timing - Approx. 55 minutes. A full lab includes 3 centers. (Learn, Compete 1 (Severe) and Compete 2 (Mild). The Learn portion is around 10 minutes. Each Center is around 15 minutes. A 5 minute opening and a 10 minute closing/clean up time are required.

    4. Supervision School/Campus shall provide supervision via valued teachers or proctors.

    5. Lab Centers are best suited for groups of 24-30 students at a time and Ideal for grade levels 2-6.

      **Fewer students may be sent, (Admin discretion)

      **Custom class sizes, grade level combinations, or other participants are per Admin’s Discretion.

    6. Lab centers: Include 5 to 6 electronic Shake Tables, wooden blocks, and decor.

    7. Electrical Note: Peak (Max) load of 15A intermittently.

    8. Location - A classroom sized indoor area is preferred, electricity is required. Chairs and Tables are required.