Earthquakes Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This resource provides everything you need to teach a complete middle school Earth science unit on earthquakes. With editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments, the lesson is structured for multiday use while requiring minimal prep. Activities are student-centered and differentiated, allowing you to focus on guiding and supporting learning rather than directing every step.

Essential Questions for Students

• How do plate boundaries influence earthquakes?

• How are stresses in rocks connected to faults?

• What are the characteristics of different seismic waves?

• How are earthquake epicenters determined?

• How do tsunamis form?

• How are earthquakes measured?

• What steps can humans take to prepare for earthquakes?

Key Features

• Differentiated materials for remediation and extension

• Multimodal activities to keep middle school students engaged

• Flexible formats—printable and digital

• Editable PowerPoints for teacher customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson follows the 5E model of instruction—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—balancing inquiry, skill-building, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with class discussion prompts, misconceptions, and activities

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab designed for all learners and learning styles

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated reading passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Structured online activity with follow-up tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with guided reflection

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Card sorts or digital categorization tasks

• Write It! – Open-ended written responses

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching for concept reinforcement

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Extension tasks such as puzzles, games, and mini-projects for early finishers or advanced learners

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in standard and interactive formats

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking templates

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on earthquakes for extension in class or at home

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0 with standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and discussion questions for practice, homework, or test prep

Flexibility for Learning Environments

This lesson works in both in-person and virtual classrooms. The station lab and interactive notebook activities are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, ensuring seamless use across different settings.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.