NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
Direct linkDirect link
ERIC Number: EJ1330380
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8148
EISSN: N/A
Wondering about Wobbling: An Earthquake Design Challenge for Upper Elementary Students
Muller, Alexandria; Connolly, Tarah; Galisky, John; Skinner, Ron; Christman, Devon M.; Harlow, Danielle
Science and Children, v59 n3 p25-29 Jan-Feb 2022
The activity presented in this article is part of a four-part module that centers earthquakes as a common phenomenon that students experience and introduces the idea of a resonant frequency. When the seismic waves from an earthquake encounter a building, the subsequent oscillating motion of the ground causes the building to move back and forth. The activity described in this article was implemented on a field trip to an interactive science center. In the first activity the authors have developed, students explore various structures around their schools to develop an understanding of common stabilizing methods used in construction. In the second activity, students explore the resonant frequencies of different-size strips of cardstock as they vary the frequency of the shaking motion applied to the strips. During this activity, they develop an understanding of how waves can cause objects to move as they transfer energy to the cardstock strips. The activity presented in this article pulls upon the knowledge and experiences gained in the first two classroom activities as students are challenged to stabilize three-dimensional buildings on variable frequency shaker tables. This was piloted as a field trip program to the interactive science center with fourth and fifth graders. This article outlines the full activity, provides sample student ideas that were shared during the authors' testing, and offers some suggestions for adapting this activity to a classroom environment.
National Science Teaching Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: https://www.nsta.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: EEC1824856; EEC1824859