Earthquakes As researched by fourth graders at Harrington Elementary.

Myths and Legends Long ago people didn’t know what was happening during an earthquake. Long ago people didn’t know what was happening during an earthquake. They wanted to try to explain it so they made up stories about what could be happening. They wanted to try to explain it so they made up stories about what could be happening. Each culture had a different way to explain earthquakes. Each culture had a different way to explain earthquakes.

How do other cultures explain earthquakes? The Hindus drew a picture of the earth on top of an elephant that is on top of a turtle that is on top of a cobra. When any of them moved it moved the earth. The Hindus drew a picture of the earth on top of an elephant that is on top of a turtle that is on top of a cobra. When any of them moved it moved the earth. The Siberians thought that the earth was carried on a sled pulled by dogs. When the dogs scratched their fleas the earth shook. The Siberians thought that the earth was carried on a sled pulled by dogs. When the dogs scratched their fleas the earth shook.

Moving Continents

How the Continents Move Jagged slabs called plates make up the earth’s outside layer. Jagged slabs called plates make up the earth’s outside layer. These plates fit together like a puzzle. These plates fit together like a puzzle. The plates are always moving. We usually can’t feel it. The plates are always moving. We usually can’t feel it. Over millions of years the moving plates formed the 7 continents we know today. Over millions of years the moving plates formed the 7 continents we know today.

Famous Earthquakes In 1906 a massive earthquake shook San Francisco, California. This is where the San Andreas Fault is. In 1906 a massive earthquake shook San Francisco, California. This is where the San Andreas Fault is. In 1985 a massive earthquake shook Mexico City. This happened when the Cocos plate slipped under the North American plate. In 1985 a massive earthquake shook Mexico City. This happened when the Cocos plate slipped under the North American plate.

Be Prepared When an earthquake strikes you have to beware of falling buildings. Sometimes, buildings sink down too. You should go somewhere where things won’t fall on you, like under a desk.

More about Being Prepared Before an earthquake happens you’ve got to do drills because if you don’t do drills you won’t know what to do. Before an earthquake happens you’ve got to do drills because if you don’t do drills you won’t know what to do. People should make buildings earthquake proof. This buildings can sway a little without falling down. People should make buildings earthquake proof. This buildings can sway a little without falling down. People should screw their furniture to the wall if they live where earthquakes happen. Then things won’t fly across the room. People should screw their furniture to the wall if they live where earthquakes happen. Then things won’t fly across the room.

Warning Systems Richter Scale Scientists monitor active earthquakes They use NASA satellites They use bottles of water They use the Richter Scale They use the Modified Mercalli Scale They use a strainmeter.

Vocabulary Strainmeter- a tool that measures any movement deep down in the rocks. Laser beams bounce between the earth and a satellite to find any movements of the earth’s surface. Richter Scale- measures the amount of energy given off by an earthquake. The scales goes from 1 to 9. Modified Mercalli Scale- measures the amount of shaking and damage during an earthquake. It can be side to side or up and down.

After A Quake There’s no electricity People are homeless People are injured Telephone lines are down Buried buildings Fire Houses falling Broken windows cracked roads cracked roads Cars that are crashed

Tsunamis Tsunamis are killer waves They are wide, moving mountains of water They are caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or a landslide on the ocean floor