Earthquakes and Tsunamis

Curriculum Links

Subject: Geography
Key Stage: 2 (Year 6)
National Curriculum Area: Physical Geography
Learning Objectives:

• Understand what causes earthquakes and tsunamis.
• Explore how these natural disasters impact human and physical environments.
• Identify key areas of the world most affected by earthquakes and tsunamis.

Lesson Overview (60 minutes)

This lesson uses hands-on activities, real-world case studies, and interactive discussion to help students grasp the causes and effects of earthquakes and tsunamis. They will work in pairs and small groups to investigate how tectonic forces shape our planet.

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Lesson Plan Breakdown

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – Shockwave Simulation

1. Engage the class: Show a short, emotionally gripping video of an earthquake or tsunami (without sound at first).
2. Discussion: Ask students, "What do you think caused this?" and write their ideas on the board.
3. Demonstration: Using a tray of jelly with biscuits placed on top, gently shake the tray to simulate how tectonic plates move. Students observe how the ‘buildings’ (biscuits) respond.

Key Question: What do you think happens deep beneath the Earth’s surface when an earthquake occurs?

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Main Lesson (35 minutes)

Part 1: Understanding Earthquakes (15 minutes)

Explain:

• Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates move, creating friction and pressure.
• The epicentre is where an earthquake is strongest.
• Some earthquakes happen on land, others under the ocean.
• Use a fault line diagram to illustrate plate movement (convergent, divergent, transform).

Activity (5 minutes):

• Students pair up and use pieces of paper to model plate movement:
  • Slide them together (creating pressure).
  • Tug in opposite directions (simulating tension).
  • Push one beneath the other (subduction).

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Part 2: Exploring Tsunamis (10 minutes)

Explain:

• Tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
• Water is displaced, creating huge, fast-moving waves.
• Use real-life examples (e.g., 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 2011 Japan tsunami).

Activity (5 minutes):

• Fill a small tray with water and ask pairs to gently push one side down, watching how the ripple effect mimics a tsunami.

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Part 3: Global Impact & Case Study (10 minutes)

• Discuss how earthquakes and tsunamis affect people.
• Show students a world tectonic map – where do earthquakes most frequently occur?
• Focus on a famous event (e.g., 2011 Japan earthquake & tsunami).
• Ask groups to discuss: What happens after a major disaster? How are people affected?

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Plenary (15 minutes) – Newspaper Headlines Task

1. Set the scene: Students imagine they are reporters covering a major earthquake or tsunami.
2. Task: In groups, they write a dramatic newspaper headline and a short paragraph describing the event. (Example: “City Shaken! Buildings Fall as Shockwaves Strike”).
3. Share & Reflect: Each group reads theirs aloud. Discuss: Is the UK at risk? Why or why not?

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Differentiation & Challenges

• Support: Provide sentence starters for students who need help structuring explanations.
• Challenge: More able students can consider how scientists use seismographs to predict earthquakes.

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Resources Needed

• Tray of jelly & biscuits (for tectonic plate simulation)
• Paper for plate movement activity
• Small tray of water for tsunami wave demonstration
• World tectonic plate map
• Whiteboard & markers

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation during hands-on activities.
• Group discussions & explanations.
• Newspaper headline task (demonstrates understanding).

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Reflection & Follow-up

• Next Lesson Idea: How do people prepare for earthquakes & tsunamis?
• Further Investigation: Students research earthquake-proof buildings & solutions.

This immersive and interactive lesson will captivate students while meeting UK geography curriculum standards! 🌍💡