Human Activities Help Sustain Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing World
developed by:
Julie Allender (OMSD), Colleen Duncan (Redlands USD), Dr. Vickie Harri (OMSD), Sara Yeh (OMSD)
Lesson 5: Earthquakes and Tsunamis (MS-PS4-1)
MS-PS4-1: Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on describing waves with both qualitative and quantitative thinking.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include electromagnetic waves and is limited to standard repeating waves.]
Main Learning Goal: Students will learn how the energy in waves is related to the amplitude of the wave. Students will review energy transfer.
Focus questions for the lesson:
How are kelp forests affected by the energy released from earthquakes and tsunamis? How is the energy in a wave related to the amplitude of the wave? Ideal student response to the focus questions: The energy released from earthquakes and tsunamis affects kelp forests by disrupting the ecosystem, potentially destroying entire species. The energy in a wave is proportional to the square of the amplitude of the wave. |
Science content storyline: Students have learned about tides and characteristics of waves. They will use this knowledge to learn about the energy in seismic and tsunami waves and then how this energy is mathematically related to the amplitude of the wave. This will lead students to understanding about digitized and analog signals, which are other waves, used for tsunami early warning systems.
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Linking Question: What is it about earthquakes and tsunamis that make them destructive?