1. Earthquakes
6th Grade Science
Ms. Jennifer Ransom
January 30, 2004

2. Let’s Learn
About Earthquakes!

3. Earthquakes
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Definition
Causes
Interesting Facts
Devastating Examples from
History

4. What is an earthquake?
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Shaking of the ground
Breaking and shifting of earth’s
outer shell
Some of earth’s most powerful
events
Usually causes other natural
disasters
McNally, Karen C.. "Earthquake." World Book Online Reference Center. Jan. 2004. World
Book, Inc. 27 Jan. 2004.
http://www.aolsvc.worldbook.aol.com/ar?/na/ar/co/ar171680.htm.

5. 
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Earthquakes often
cause other natural
disasters.
Fires sometimes
occur.
1906 earthquake
caused fire
damage.
Look at the
blackened building.

6. Causes of Earthquakes
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Plates shift in earth’s outer crust.
Stress occurs on rocks along faults.
Excessive stress causes rocks to
break.
Rocks move into new positions.
This causes the shaking of
earthquakes.

7. Interesting Facts


Earthquakes
rarely kill
people …
Building
collapses do!

8. Interesting Facts
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Even buildings left
standing are
dangerous.
There is often
structural damage.

9. Effects of Earthquakes
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People are
often left
homeless.
They must find
temporary
housing.

10. Effects of Earthquakes
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Food and water
may be scarce.
People wait in line
for water.
Bread lines are
also long!
1806 earthquake
victims struggled
to survive.

11. Effects of Earthquakes
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Looting often takes
place.
Chaos usually
makes things
worse.
Police patrols are
necessary.

12. Effects of Earthquakes

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Sometimes
government must
get involved!
Check out this
proclamation in
1906.
This San Francisco
earthquake was
devastating!

13. Devastating Examples
from History
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Charleston’s famous earthquake
Early morning earthquake on February 7,
1812
It began at about 3:30 a.m.
Shaking continued for about 25 minutes.
Shaking caused severe structural damage.
Information courtesy of the following collection in the American Memory Collection of the
Library of Congress:
An American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed
Ephemera.

14. Devastating Examples
from History

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San Francisco’s famous earthquake
of 1906
Quake caused damage to some
buildings.
Other buildings were undamaged.
Look at some scenes from 1906.

18. Devastating Examples
from History

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Finally, look at
other dangerous
results.
First picture –
exposed water
pipes
Second picture –
twisted streetcar
tracks

19. Earthquakes
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Respond to what you have learned.
Write a one-half page response.
Discuss at least five things about
earthquakes.
Include any or all of these:
• Causes
• Effects on people or land
• Examples

20. Acknowledgements
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Pictures and most information
provided courtesy of the American
Memory Collection of the Library
of Congress.
Earthquake definition and causes
provided (as noted) by World Book
Online.