Big Picture: How can earthquakes be measured?

• Know how earthquakes are measured.

• Be able to describe the differences in the equipment used to measure earthquakes.

• Analyse a seismograph

Write a paragraph that a news reporter might read out as these images are

being shown.

Connect: What are these figures talking about?

• http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=

6369596n

Or, by using the Mercalli scale

Activate: What is the difference between the richer scale and the

Mercalli scale?

• Under your copy of the diagram complete the sentences by filling in the correct definition.

• Measures the intensity of an earthquake by taking the numerical scale of movement recorded onto a seismograph during an earthquake.

• Measures the intensity of an earthquake according to the perception people have of how severe the earthquake is by the damage it causes.

• Extension: Which scale do you think is a more accurate way of measuring earthquakes? Why do you think this?

Demonstrate: How can the seismographs be used to create a

living graph?

Living Graph Activity

• Analyse the seismograph reading from an earthquake.

• Read the statements about what might happen before,

during and after an earthquake.

• Decide where you think the statements should go on the

graph.

• Pick 3 of the statements and write a description to explain

why you have put them in this location.

Complete the

reflection block about

what you have learnt

this lesson.

3 things I

have learnt

about

earthquakes

2 things I still

want to know

1 thing I

already knew

about

earthquakes

• Complete the worksheet on the Mercalli

Scale.

• In the 2012 GCSE exam paper a question

came up on this scale- it caught many

students out so don’t let it do the same to

you!

• LEARN IT NOW!