The effects of earthquakes
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can categorise primary and secondary effects of earthquakes and explain why some earthquakes are more deadly than others.
Key learning points
- Primary effects happen directly as a result of an earthquake, for example broken gas pipes.
- Secondary effects happen as a result of an earthquake's primary effects, for example a fire.
- Earthquake severity depends on the magnitude, focus depth, epicentre location, aftershocks, preparations and response.
- Some of the deadliest and costliest earthquake events have occurred in high income countries.
Keywords
Magnitude - how much energy is released during an earthquake, often measured in Mw (moment magnitude)
Epicentre - where the earthquake is first felt, the point on the surface directly above the focus
Focus - the point underground where the tectonic plates first break or slip
Common misconception
A dangerous earthquake event is when the ground shakes, once. Then the danger is over.
Further sizeable earthquakes may occur in the days, weeks and months after a big earthquake, known as aftershocks, and these can be as dangerous for people and property, especially given the damage already done.
Teacher tip
A homework task could be to research the primary and secondary effects for a case study that interests the students.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are tectonic plates?
Q2.What causes most earthquakes?
Q3.Where do most earthquakes occur?
Q4.What is the point inside Earth where an earthquake starts called?
Q5.What instrument measures the strength of earthquakes?
Q6.What is a fault line?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What does 'magnitude' mean in an earthquake?
Q2.What is the epicentre?
Q3.Which of the following is likely to happen after a major earthquake?
Q4.Why can the same magnitude earthquake have different effects in different places?
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: The effects of earthquakes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: The effects of earthquakes, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Tectonic hazards: Why is Earth restless? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.