Shake, Rattle, and Roll -- the Earth

It’s been shaking here in California – and other places throughout the world. Find out how the earth moves – and how you can take action.

CONNECT:

Explore the science behind earthquakes at http://www.exploratorium.edu/faultline/index.html

Watch National Geographic Society’s videos on earthquate format: www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/earthquakes/phenomena.html

See animations about earthquakes at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/earthquakes/index.html

What earthquakes occurred on this day? Find out at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/today/

Read a child’s view of earthquakes in this ABC: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/abc/

Know about Pangaea? It’s the earth’s supercontinent; watch it move at http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/anim1.html

CREATE:

Try these activities that demonstrate earthquake principles: http://www.exploratorium.edu/faultline/activezone/activities.html

Try your hand at one or several of these earthquake activities: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/kidsLearningLinks.php

Test out earthquake science experiments at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/sciencefair.php

A seismograph measures earthquake activity; Bill Nye the Science Guy explains them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qbg7orb1lc.  Make your own seismograph following the directions at http://www.mrsec.psu.edu/education/nano-activities/sand/make_a_seismograph/make_a_working_seismograph.pdf

Check out earthquake simulations at http://smartr.edc.org/earthquake

CARE:

Learn how to construct an earthquake-proof building at http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/earthquakeproof/

How can you be safe in an earthquake? Create a family earthquake ready kit following the guidelines at http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/earthquakes/ready.htm

The U.S. Geological Survey provides several booklists on earthquake preparedness: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/preparedness.php

The US government shows how to be prepared and support your community in earthquake times: http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes

CAREER:

What’s shaking in civil engineering? Find out at http://www.civilengineeringcareers.org/earthquake-engineering

Learn more about earthquake-related careers at http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/careers/es1004.cfm

Find out what it takes to become a geophysicist: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/become.php

Explore a career in seismology at http://www.seismosoc.org/society/education/careers.php

Go Fly a Kite

April is Kite Month, largely because the weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere are good for flying them. But you can learn about kites any time of the year. And when someone says, “Go fly a kite,” take them up on it – as a compliment.

CONNECT:

• Look at different types of kites at the Virtual Kite Zoo: http://www.blueskylark.org/zoo/
• Trace 3000 years of kite history at http://www.my-best-kite.com/history-of-chinese-kites.html
• Meteorological kites served important roles in the Industrial Revolution. Check them out at http://www.kitehistory.com/Miscellaneous/meteorological_kites.htm
• How does a kite fly? Check out its aerodynamics at http://blog.nasm.si.edu/aviation/how-kites-fly/
• Benjamin Franklin discovered electrical phenomenon using a kite Truth or myth?  Read one version at http://www.codecheck.com/cc/BenAndTheKite.html.  Now read about Myth Busters’s experiment at http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/ben-franklin-electricity.htm

CREATE:

• Make your own kite following the directions at: http://www.skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html. Another video set of directions for making a kite can be seen at http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fast-Kite-with-One-Sheet-of-Paper
• Kite festivals are held around the world. Maybe there’s one near you that you could visit – and you can always see pictures virtually. A list of kite festivals is found at http://matadornetwork.com/trips/photo-gallery-23-huge-kite-festivals-around-the-world/
• Experiment with different kite shapes, and see which flies best: http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/kites.html
• Discover kite math at http://www.transum.org/software/Fun_Maths/kite/

CARE:

• Have a story about kites? You can add it to the World’s Kit Collection at http://www.drachen.org/
• Find out safety issues about kite flying at http://www.awindofchange.com/lessons/lesson1-1.html
• Help plan a kite festival: http://www.nationalkitemonth.org/events/
• Kites aren’t just for fun. Find out some nifty uses at https://sites.google.com/site/stanfordkfs/the-kite/uses-of-kites

CAREERS:

Up in the air about careers? You might fly high with these careers:

http://www.aopa.org/letsgoflying/dream/whyfly/careers.html

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/background/careers/

http://www.khake.com/page41.html