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While doing a little reading in Earth over break, I came across a very interesting article on how seismic waves can be "visualized" by converting them to audible sound. The different sound recordings are very interesting and could be useful for children as a supplement to just looking at seismograms. You can access sound files here: http://geophysics.eas.gatech.edu/people/zpeng/EQ_Music/#part3_1 They also have a video showing all earthquakes 4.5 and higher for 2011, including the 9.0 in Japan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPEpSX08K_Q

Have you read about using slinky's to teach this? It sounds interesting especially when I got towards the end of the article where is should using students lined up to also represent the waves. http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~braile/edumod/slinky/slinky4.htm

Yes. Larry's site has many excellent resources. We have used some in our teacher workshops and I also use some with my students. I really like the one where you ave a plastic slinky and a metal one taped together end to end so you can model how wave frequency changes at the boundaries between earth's internal layers.

Thanks Cris - The earthquake recordings will be interesting to show my class. We have shown the video before, I think it emphasizes the many seismic events that occur on a regular basis, more so than a data list. I will use both!

And don't forget frost quakes, or cryoseisms.... http://www.wptz.com/news/vermont-new-york/burlington/What-s-a-cryoseism/-/8869880/23719742/-/1000mfmz/-/index.html

WE are on our 3rd day off (never have restarted yet from Christmas break) and I have been coming in each day to get work done in my classroom. We've been off due to extreme wind chill and blowing snow. It is very quiet in the building with no one else around and I heard a loud crash the other day and never found anything that had fallen. It may have been one of these cryoseisms!

It is very interesting to investigate the phenomenon that occurs within the earth. Cryoseisms and earthquakes help us remember that we are living on a dynamic planet! When I lived in CA, I was shocked that the instant before I experienced my first earthquake that it sounded like someone was pushing a desk across the floor. Before that moment, I didn't realize that there is sound associated with an earthquake. While they can be scary, as a science teacher, it's also pretty awesome to feel the tectonic plates move under your feet!

In addition to the other great resources already mentioned, one of my favorite resources for teaching about the plate tectonics is LHS GEMS Plate Tectonics: The Way the Earth Works. This book contains several fantastic, hands-on ideas for engaging students in learning about plate tectonic theory.

Maureen

It seems to me that the cosmos is much better known than our own earth. After all, in its depths and on the seabed, there is a lot more unhealed than in the distant cosmos. This is why I find it very interesting, geology, geophysical equipment, gpr It makes it possible to find something interesting without creating shuttles and expeditions to Mars. Perhaps you will share my opinion.