This natural hazards: earthquakes activity is specifically designed for NGSS MS-ESS3-2: Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
Help your students truly understand earthquake risk and mitigation with this engaging, data-driven graphing activity! Students will analyze real-world patterns and explore how different factors influence earthquake damage and impact.
This resource is designed to align with the intent of NGSS MS-ESS3-2 by focusing on how and why earthquake impacts vary, rather than how earthquakes form or how they work.
FIVE Different Graphing Worksheets are Included. Each Has…
- Short background info section
- Simple data table
- Blank graphs with pre-labeled axes (2 line, 2 bar, 1 pie)
- Follow-up analysis questions
Students will graph the following data:
- Distance from Epicenter vs. Damage
- Earthquake Magnitude vs. Damage Cost
- Population Density vs. Deaths
- Building Codes vs. Damage (Same Magnitude Earthquake)
- Where Do Earthquakes Occur? (Ring of Fire focus)
Why You’ll Love This Activity:
- Strong NGSS alignment (MS-ESS3-2: Natural Hazards)
- Fully text-dependent questions – no outside knowledge required
- Builds data analysis + graphing skills
- Easy to implement – minimal prep – just copies!
- Perfect for classwork, stations, or review
Teacher Notes:
- Includes an answer key.
- Related NGSS Standards: MS-ESS3-2: Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
- Please note: This earthquakes activity is NOT editable.
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