Sixth Grade Earthquakes
By Bob Floth
December 08, 2009
The Freeman sixth grade science classes recently conducted an experiment involving plate tectonics and their relationship to earthquakes. Each group of students was asked to build a structure to be tested on the earthquake shake table provided by Mr. Dave Henning from ESU 5 in Beatrice. Each group was given a package of graham crackers and some peanut butter as well as a Styrofoam base. They were given time to build their structures before testing them on the earthquake table. The earthquake table won every challenge, but the structural designs of the structures built by the student groups were each unique and well thought out. After the activity, a class discussion was held on the various ways in which engineers think about building earthquake “proof” houses.
