Educator Guide Grade 6 – Grade 12 What’s Inside: A. Exhibit Overview B. Exhibit Map c. Key Concepts d. Vocabulary E. museum connections f. Resources A. exhibit overview Earthquakes provide dramatic evidence that we live on a dynamic planet. Welcome to Earthquake, where the focus is on how earth processes, including earthquakes, shape Earth’s surface, affect the evolution and distribution of life on our planet, and directly impact people’s lives. Use this guide to: The exhibit areas interpret how seismic activity has driven » Plan your field trip to evolutionary change and biodiversity and shaped human culture, the California Academy acting on timescales from seconds to billions of years. of Sciences’ Earthquake exhibit. At Earthquake, students can discover what earthquakes are, what » Learn about exhibit causes earthquakes, and how earthquakes fit into the larger story themes, key concepts and behind–the–scenes of plate tectonics—a constant process that builds mountains, information to enhance moves continents and creates the landscape in which life evolves and guide your students’ or goes extinct. After exploring the science behind earthquakes, experience. students can learn how to prepare for and respond to them. The » Link to exhibit–related activities you can earthquake simulator provides students with the opportunity to download. experience a high–magnitude jolt. The exhibit concludes with a » Connect your field trip review of the impacts of the 1906 earthquake and fire—the largest to the classroom. disaster in San Francisco’s history. The following main themes are woven throughout Earthquake: » The earth is a dynamic planet that is always changing. » The richness and diversity of life on Earth is affected by the movement of Earth’s crust. » Studying the movement of Earth’s crust tells us where most earthquakes will occur, but cannot tell us when they will happen. » Earthquakes affect people and we can prepare to survive the next major one. 02 Earthquake Educator Guide California Academy of Sciences a Observation Living Roof deck Planetarium exit b Upper Gallery Classroom c Naturalist B.Level exhibit 3 map Center California Academy of Sciences Map d Forum Level 2 Sta Entrance g j Swamp Earthquake Early Explorers Cove Aquarium Project View into Store stairs Lab Collections h Planetarium East pass pick-up l Earthquake Garden e Islands of Evolution k Rainforests Piazza of the World West f Science (Exits in Garden in Action Aquarium) Reef Lagoon m Garden n Moss Room Cafe Restaurant Penguins i African Hall Information m Academy Cafe Store Entrance Level 1 Level 1 Swamp N Store Level 1 stairs o Philippine Coral Reef p Water r Northern t Amazon Planet California Flooded Lower Level Coast Forest (Aquarium) s Discovery q Animal Tidepool Lower Level Attraction (Aquarium) California Academy of Sciences Earthquake Educator Guide 03 B. exhibit map Earthquake Map SHAKE EXPERIENCE DOME THEATER RATITES SAN FRANCISCO SHAKES PLATE TECTONICS FOSSIL EVIDENCE LIFE DRIFTS PLANTS PEOPLE PREPARE MARSUPIALS METEORITE EARTH QUAKES PLATES SHIFT N Rainforest The Earthquake exhibit consists of five areas: Earth Quakes, Life Drifts, San Francisco Shakes, People Prepare, and Plates Shift. You will encounter an abundance of specimens, as well as numerous interactive stations, video presentations, ratites and an earthquake simulator. Before you visit the exhibition spend some time viewing the information on the Academy’s website at www.calacademy.org to begin planning your visit. 04 Earthquake Educator Guide California Academy of Sciences SHAKE EXPERIENCE DOME THEATER c. key concepts: EarTH QUAKES RATITES Heat andSAN Gravity FRANCISCO SHAKES PLATE TECTONICS A constant heating and cooling cycle FOSSIL EVIDENCE LIFE DRIFTS in the mantle drives plate movement PLANTS PEOPLE PREPAREon the Earth’s surface. Heat combined MARSUPIALS with the effects of gravity causes METEORITE irregular pieces of Earth’s crust, called tectonic plates, to move. Main ideas: EARTH QUAKES » Heat rising from Earth’s core puts pressure on PLATES SHIFT the bottom of the rigid outer mantle and crust (lithosphere) causing it to fracture and move. » The earth continues to produce its own internal heat by a process known as radioactive decay. Take a closer look! Plate movement Moving mantle creates Mantle motion currents that cause Rising mantle loses plates to shift. heat, becomes heavier, sinks back down and is reheated. Inner core Outer core Lithosphere A rigid shell of tectonic Mantle plates made of crust and uppermost mantle. Crust California Academy of Sciences Earthquake Educator Guide 05 SHAKE EXPERIENCE DOME THEATER c. key concepts: EarTH QUAKES RATITES Earth’s MantleSAN FRANCISCO Materials SHAKES PLATE TECTONICS Mineral specimens are evidence FOSSIL EVIDENCE LIFE DRIFTS of what the Earth’s mantle is made PLANTS PEOPLE PREPAREof. Here are some examples of the MARSUPIALS compounds that make up the mantle METEORITE of our planet. Main ideas: » Earth’s mantle is the layer above the core and EARTH QUAKES beneath the crust and is divided into two parts. PLATES SHIFT » The lower mantle is solid rock. » The upper mantle has a partially molten layer (asthenosphere) underlying a thin solid layer that is fused to the crust (lithosphere). » The asthenosphere is the molten layer on which the tectonic plates ride. Take a closer look! Foresterite Magnesiohornblende (magnesium-rich olivine) (an amphibole) Mg₂ SiO₄ Ca₂Mg₄Al(AlSi₂Si₇O₂₂)(OH)₂ Olivine—the mantle’s most This mineral forms under common mineral—flows under pressure when magma cools. pressure, greasing the slow slide It can appear as small, dark of Earth’s tectonic plates. crystals in igneous rocks. Augite Bytownite (a pyroxene) Calcium feldspar (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe₂+,Al,Fe₃,Ti) (Ca,Na)(Si,Al)₄O₈ (Si,Al)₂O₆ This type of feldspar is Augite crystals form in magma especially rich in calcium. as it cools and hardens. 06 Earthquake Educator Guide California Academy of Sciences SHAKE EXPERIENCE DOME THEATER c. key concepts: EarTH QUAKES RATITES Earth’s CrustSAN FRANCISCO Materials SHAKES PLATE TECTONICS Mineral specimens provide evidenceFOSSIL EVIDENCE LIFE DRIFTS as to how Earth’s crust is formed. PLANTS PEOPLE PREPARE Minerals and rocks in the crust are MARSUPIALS more diverse than those in the inner METEORITE layers of the earth. Main ideas: » Earth has two types of crust: oceanic and continental. EARTH QUAKES » Continental crust is 22 to 44 miles thick and is PLATES SHIFT less dense and more rigid than oceanic crust, so continents ride higher on the mantle and shed water lower and underlies most of the surface covered by into the ocean basins. oceans. » Oceanic crust is four to six miles thick and is more » The crust and uppermost part of the mantle together dense and flexible than continental crust. It sits make up a rigid layer known as the lithosphere. Take a closer look! Oceanic crust Continental crust Basalt pillow Granodiorite Oceanic crust is mostly Continental crust is made dark, fine–grained basalt of silica–rich rocks that formed by volcanic contain common minerals eruptions. Pillows form like quartz and feldspar. on the seafloor where water quickly cools molten lava. Continental crust Granodiorite Oceanic crust Basalt pillow California Academy of Sciences Earthquake Educator Guide 07 SHAKE EXPERIENCE DOME THEATER c. key concepts: EarTH QUAKES RATITES Earth’s InnerSAN FRANCISCO Core SHAKES PLATE TECTONICS Earth’s inner core is similar to a very FOSSIL EVIDENCE LIFE DRIFTS hot iron meteorite. Scientific data PLANTS PEOPLE PREPAREindicate that Earth’s core is mostly MARSUPIALS iron, with about 4% nickel plus METEORITE small parts of lighter elements. Iron meteorites are remnants of our solar system’s formation. EARTH QUAKES Main ideas: PLATES SHIFT » The iron in the Earth’s inner core is derived from a previous generation of stars. » The composition of iron meteorites closely » Iron meteorites are remnants of previous stars, matches scientific predictions about the chemical or iron that was subsequently incorporated into composition of Earth’s core. asteroids or planets. » Earth’s core is almost as hot as the Sun. Take a closer look! Iron Meteorite This iron meteorite is made of the same material that makes up Earth’s inner core. The only difference is that the iron in the inner core is nearly as hot as the surface of the Sun. Canyon Diablo meteorite, Barriner Meteor Crater, Arizona, 221 lbs. 08 Earthquake Educator Guide California Academy of Sciences SHAKE EXPERIENCE DOME THEATER c. key concepts: EarTH QUAKES RATITES Reading SANEarthquakes FRANCISCO SHAKES PLATE TECTONICS Earthquakes provide evidence of FOSSIL EVIDENCE LIFE DRIFTS Earth’s structure, which includes the PLANTS PEOPLE PREPAREcore, mantle and crust. Much of what MARSUPIALS we know about the Earth’s interior METEORITE comes from waves generated by earthquakes. Main ideas: EARTH QUAKES » The energy earthquakes release travels in the form PLATES SHIFT of waves called seismic waves. Each earthquake produces three basic types of seismic waves. detected before slower secondary S wave. The » Each seismic wave has a different type of motion and farther away from the epicenter, the greater the time travels through the earth at different speeds. interval between the arrival of P and S waves. » Surface waves ripple across the crust, while body » Scientists know about the structure and composition waves travel through the Earth’s interior in all of the Earth’s interior by studying how seismic waves directions. The faster primary P waves are always move through the Earth. Seismic Waves P-waves S-waves Travel up to Move at about 46,800 km/h half the speed (29,000 mph). of P-waves. Move with a Move with an Solid core back and forth side-to-side motion. motion. Travel through Liquid outer core Travel through both solids and solids but liquids. not through Solid mantle liquids. California Academy of Sciences Earthquake Educator Guide 09 SHAKE EXPERIENCE DOME THEATER c. key concepts: EarTH QUAKES RATITES Earthquakes: Earth Shakes Where PlatesSAN FRANCISCO Meet SHAKES PLATE TECTONICS Movement in narrow zones alongFOSSIL EVIDENCE LIFE DRIFTS plate boundaries is the causePLANTS of most PEOPLE PREPARE earthquakes.