An
Overview:
The
purpose of this project is to introduce students to the various factors contributing
to the design of structures in seismic regions, including the competing constraints
of form and function, economics and most importantly its ability to survive
a major earthquake.
Project
Details:
Up
to this point, Shakes and Quakes has been used in addition to, or as a supplement
for, the textbook during an Earth Science unit on earthquakes. The entire
project lasts 2 to 3 weeks, with one week devoted to planning and building
the Lego structures. The second (or third) week is used for constructing the
K'Nex building, testing the buildings on Quake Day, and writing the final
reports. The first and last classes will be led by EERI representatives, while
the teacher is responsible for conducting the discussions and group activities
in between.
How
to Bring Shakes and Quakes to Your Classroom:
1.)
Contact the university to determine resource availability:
-
If
you are in or near the South Bend area e-mail
the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute chapter of Notre Dame.
-
Teachers not
in the area can search the UCIST
website or click here to determine if there
is a university near you with a Shaking Table that could perform a similar
demonstration.
2.) Develop your
lesson plan and determine a time table for the unit. The following resources
were developed in conjuction with a previous Shakes and Quakes teacher participant:
More
Resources:
You
can contact EERI Vice President Liz Kerr
School: 631-4307
e-mail: ecarsten@nd.edu
or:
Dru Wrasse, Stanley Clark Elementary, 2 years with
the program -- dwrasse@stanleyclark.org
Websites:
1.)
Earthquakes
-
Near
Real Time Earthquake (for daily tracking of global earthquakes)
-
USGS:
Earthquake Hazards Program
-
Multidisciplinary
Center for Earthquake Engineering Research
-
USGS: Building
Safer Structures
-
USGS: Saving
Lives Through Better Design Standards
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