After a brief introduction, students will be introduced to plate tectonics, plate movement, the 3 essential plate boundary types, and fault lines. Students will learn about the deformation of land masses into mountains. Students will learn about the LA and Inland Empire Compression zones of the San Andreas Fault system. Local mountains will be used to engage prior knowledge about landscapes and frame earthquakes as a release of built up energy over time.

In this activity, students will try their hand at innovative solutions using wood blocks, similar to a residential home. Will a wide foundation help in an earthquake? Who can make a tall tower resilient?

A well built foundation will ensure a structure’s safety by supporting and locking the superstructure in place. In this activity, students will dig deep, create, and test foundations in simulated bedrock.

High rise towers are found in seismically active areas around the world. Students will collaborate to construct a safe high rise building of their own design. They’ll make use of technologies like tuned mass dampers as they build and test.

Dynamic loads can damage a structure that is not built to withstand it. Geometries like triangles and cross braces help control flex and sheer forces. Students will build structures to resist these forces on our simulator PCs.

1. Student time -Approximately 3 hours, this is perfect for 3 separate groups of ~24 students, or an after school program.

   Set up time - 1 Hour is needed prior to first students’/ class arrival.

2. CA NGSS Standards

   1- PS4-1 through 3: Cause and Effect

   2.-ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems (ETS1 -1,2,3)

   3-ESS3-1 Cause and Effect § Cause and effect relationships

   4-ESS2-2 / ESS2.B: Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions

   5-ESS3.B: Natural Hazards

3. Lab Timing - Approx. 55 minutes. A full lab includes 4 centers.. The Learn portion is around 10 minutes. Each Center is around 15 minutes. A 5 minute opening and a 10 minute closing/clean up time are required.

4. Supervision School/Campus shall provide supervision via valued teachers or proctors.

5. Lab Centers are best suited for groups of 24-30 students at a time for grade levels 1-6.

   **Fewer students may be sent, (Admin discretion)

   **Custom class sizes, grade level combinations, or other participants are per Admin’s Discretion.

6. Lab centers: Include 5 to 6 electronic Shake Tables, wooden blocks, 3d printed structural elements, and decor.

7. Location - A classroom sized indoor area is preferred, electricity is required. Chairs and Tables are required.

8. Fire lane/ vehicle access near classroom is required to expedite set up.