earthquake.usgs.gov

This comprehensive site, designed for teens and adults, includes real-time event maps, worldwide monitoring programs, earthquake preparedness, and other features. Created by: The U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, DC. Detour: Learn more about six quake-prone areas around the world on Smithsonian magazine’s “Earthquakes” site.

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For kids who’ve never experienced one, it’s hard to imagine what an earthquake is like. That’s where these five brief videos come in. They include a montage of amateur clips taken during quakes and productions on Mammoth, CA, one of the most active quake areas in the U.S., and the fault line that runs underneath Seattle. Created by: The National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.

www.fema.gov/kids/quake.htm

The folks at FEMA do a great job of explaining earthquakes to middle school kids, and how they can stay safe if one occurs. Created by: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington DC. Don’t miss: “Jess & Sam’s Earthquake” and the “Tasty Quake”—experiments you can eat.

earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids

Designed for middle-grade students, this site is full of quake information and activities that will fascinate both teachers and kids. Created by: U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, DC. Don’t miss: “Earthquake ABC,” a student-illustrated glossary. The “Puzzles and Games” and “Learning Links” sections offer classroom activities.

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Focusing on California’s San Andreas fault and the Bay Area, this site teaches older kids and teens about plate tectonics, predicting earthquakes, and building quake-safe buildings. Created by: The Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA. Detour: Make the earth move with “Make a Quake.”