Lesson Plan Template

Subject(s): _____________________________________ Date: _________________

Teacher: ____________________________________ School: _____________________

1. Objective (What is the topic of discussion and reason for learning?)

Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior

2. Learning Target(s): (What will students know & be able to do as a result of this
lesson?)

Students will be able to

1. Examine an earthquake seismogram and identify the P waves and S waves, and
surface waves
2. Use a seismograph and travel-time graph to measure the distance to the epicenter
of an earthquake and determine the time it occurred.
3. List the name, thickness, and state of matter of each of Earth’s layers.
4. Describe the temperature gradient in Earth’s interior.
5. Explain why the asthenosphere likely consists of very weak material.

3. Relavance/Rationale: (Why are the outcomes of this lesson important in the real
world? How will it benefit students to know this topic?)

Living in California, it is important to teach students about earthquakes and why they
happen. It is important to teach them because we live in a place where we are prone to
earthquakes to happen very often. It is important to learn why they happen and how we
can detect how strong an earthquake is and how long it lasted. With materials such as a
seismograph and seismograms we are able to measure its strength and time. This topic
relates a lot to students’ lives because it is something that happens to this state.

4. Formative Assessment Criteria for success: (How will you & your students know
if they have successfully met the outcomes? By what criteria will they be
assessed?)
Students will be assessed in form of a vocabulary exam. In that exam, students will need
to have studied important terms such as ​seismograph, seismogram, P waves, S waves,
Earth’s layers, etc. ​They will be asked to define the terms and be able to label them in
pictures that will be provided in the exam. This will show the teacher that the student
learned the material and knows the definitions and will be able to place the correct word
to the correct place.

Example:

Students will be asked to correctly label this diagram. The terms will be provided and
will also be asked to color the picture.
 5. Activities/Tasks: (What learning experiences will students engage in?)
Students will be asked to re-create the Earth and its major layers in their own unique
way.

Students may use different types of materials such as styrofoam balls, tissue paper,
colored pencils, construction paper, playdough/clay, etc. This will encourage students to
use their creativity and imagination. Students will have the option to create a 3D or a 2D
model of the Earth. Students will be required to correctly label all layers and use the
corresponding colors to show their mastery of the subject. This will be a fun and hands
on way to learn about the Earth and its interior.
 6. Resources/Materials: (What texts, digital resources, & Materials will be used in
this lesson?)
The materials used in this lesson are

- calculators, colored pencils. ruler. drawing compass, styrofoam balls, tissue

paper, string, toothpicks, different colored construction paper, playdough, clay,
etc.