1. All about Earthquakes! By Isobel Dobson

2. Tectonic Plates There are 8 main tectonic plates on the surface of the Earth and lots of smaller ones. They cover the planet and are always moving. Tectonic plates are floating on a layer of molten rock.

3. How Earthquakes are caused? Where tectonic plates meet is called a fault line. When the plates rub together it causes tremors and shakes – and this is what causes earthquakes.

4. How often do they happen? There are over a million Earthquakes each year all over the world. But we don’t notice most of them because they are so small. In the UK there are about 250 small ones but only about 30 are strong enough to be felt.

5. Aftershocks Earthquakes can cause more damage after the first shock. There can be lots of smaller quakes after the first main one. These are called aftershocks. Aftershocks can happen for up to 2 years after the main Earthquake but become weaker each time.