Why Earthquakes Happen

ScienceVolcanoes & EarthquakesAges 7–9

Understand that earthquakes happen when rocks underground suddenly move or break, releasing energy that shakes the ground

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Teaching Table

Set out your lesson

Distinguish underground earthquake cause from surface effects.

Activity

Can attend to a short explanation and respond orally, by pointing, drawing or writing; check relevant prerequisite understanding rather than assuming age proves readiness.

Policy

Check readiness rather than assuming age or source graph order establishes attainment.

Materials

Prepared passage, diagram materials are available in each step.

Preparation

Open the teaching material first. Keep the adult key and check sheet separate until their named stage. No printing, purchase or external media is required for the supplied adapted text tasks.

Safety

Use paper only; no shaking heavy furniture or earthquake simulation around people.

Optional Observation

Only record a real observation after the activity is actually carried out safely; otherwise mark not carried out.

Materials are ready in each step. Use them on screen or print just the current step. Put teaching examples aside before the learner tries.

What this lesson covers and its limits

These are bounded opportunities, not learner attainment. Partial and blocked source requirements remain so.

partial: Understand that earthquakes happen when rocks underground suddenly move or break, releasing energy that shakes the ground
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using supported sequence reading; repeated application evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.
partial: Explain that earthquakes are caused by rocks underground suddenly moving
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using supported sequence reading; repeated application evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.
partial: Describe how this movement sends shaking through the surrounding ground
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using supported sequence reading; repeated application evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.
partial: Distinguish between the underground cause and the surface effects of an earthquake
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using supported sequence reading; repeated application evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.
partial: If {{name}} felt a small tremor or saw footage of an earthquake, could they explain that it happens because rocks deep underground suddenly shift or crack?
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using supported sequence reading; repeated application evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.

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Distinguish underground earthquake cause from surface effects.

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Check understanding

Explain that earthquakes are caused by rocks underground suddenly moving
Describe how this movement sends shaking through the surrounding ground
Distinguish between the underground cause and the surface effects of an earthquake

“If your child felt a small tremor or saw footage of an earthquake, could they explain that it happens because rocks deep underground suddenly shift or crack?”

Curriculum record

Type: Conceptual
Subject: Science
Domain: Volcanoes & Earthquakes
Age range: Ages 7–9