1. Earth-shattering
Earthquakes
by
Group 3

2. What is an earthquake?
 The text describes an earthquake as
something that happens “when two
blocks of earth suddenly slip past
one another.”
 A fault is where this happens.
 The hypocenter is where the
earthquake begins.
 The epicenter is the spot above the
hypocenter.

3. Graphic #1: Diagram

4.  Graphic #1 shows layers of the
Earth.
 This diagram shows that the
hypocenter of an earthquake is
below the surface of the Earth.
 It also shows that one “block” of
earth might shift higher than
another “block” of earth.

5. What causes earthquakes and
where do they happen?
 This section explains that there are four
layers of the Earth, which include the
inner core, the outer core, the mantle,
and the crust.
 The surface of the Earth is not just one
large piece—“it is made up of many
pieces like a puzzle.”
 The puzzle pieces are tectonic plates.
 Sometimes, plates get stuck. When they
become “unstuck,” there is an
earthquake.

6. Graphic #2: Diagram

7.  Graphic #2 shows the four layers of the
Earth.
 This diagram helps the reader understand
that these layers are not all the same
size.
 It also shows the distance in km of each
layer.
 The lithosphere is the smallest layer.
 The core, including the inner core and
outer core, is larger than the mantle.

8. Why does the earth shake when
there is an earthquake?
 When the edges of two faults are stuck,
energy is stored up.
 When the two faults move, the stored
energy comes out in waves.
 These seismic waves come “outward from
the fault in all directions.” The text says
these waves are “like ripples on a pond.”
 Then, these waves are what shake the
Earth during an earthquake.

9. Graphic #3: Map

10.  Graphic #3 shows the different
plates on the Earth.
 This map helps the reader
understand that some of the plates
are larger than continents.
 Also, some of the plates have more
than one continent on them.
 It also shows that the oceans are on
top of the plates.

11. What I would add:
 I would add photographs of what it
looks like when an earthquake
happens.
 I would even add photos of how
earthquakes affect buildings and
people’s homes.

12. Source: “The Science of Earthquakes.” US Geological Survey. 27 Oct.
2009. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.