S E I S M I C S L E U T H S
M A T R I C E S
F O R T H E N A T I O N A L S C I E N C E E D U C A T I O N S T A N D A R D S
UNIT 4: CanBuildingsBeMadeSafer?Students construct anunderstandingof howground shakingduring an
earthquake candamage buildings andhowbuildings canbemade better able towithstand this shaking.
SEISMIC
SLEUTHS
SECTIONS
SCIENCE
AS INQUIRY
PHYSICAL
SCIENCE
EARTH AND
SPACE
SCIENCE
SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
SCIENCE IN
PERSONAL AND
SOCIAL
PERSPECTIVES
HISTORY AND
NATURE OF
SCIENCE
UNIFYING
CONCEPTS
AND
PROCESSES
4.1 Building Fun
Students investigate
the physical properties
of buildingmaterials
and designwhile
considering how these
might affect theway a
structurewithstands
forces.
Abilities
related to
scientific
inquiry
Properties &
changes in
matter
(physical)
Motions and
Forces
Abilities of
technological
design
Natural and
human-induced
hazards
Evidence,
models, and
exploration
4.2 Structural
Reinforcement: The
Better Building
Students learn how
additional structural
elements strengthen a
structure to carry forces
resulting from
earthquake shaking.
Understanding
about
scientific
inquiry
Forces and
motions
Abilities of
technological
design
Understanding
about science
and
technology
Natural and
human-induced
hazards
Nature of
scientific
knowledge
Evidence,
models, and
explanation
4.3 The BOSS Model:
Building Oscillation
Seismic Simulation
Students investigate
howenergy enters a
structure and discover
the phenomenon of
resonance. They
measure the natural
frequencies of the
different height rod
assemblies of the
BOSSModels and
correlate thesemotions
to those of buildings
and earthquakes.
Abilities
related to
scientific
inquiry
Understanding
about
scientific
inquiry
Forces and
motions
Interactions
of energy
and matter
Understanding
about science
and
technology
Natural and
human-induced
hazards
Nature of
scientific
knowledge
Evidence,
models, and
explanation
4.4 Earthquake in a
Box
In cooperative groups,
students construct an
inexpensive shake
table for testing
structures they have
built.
Understanding
about
scientific
inquiry
Forces and
motions
Interactions
of energy
and matter
Abilities of
technological
design
Understanding
about science
and
technology
Natural and human-
induced hazards
Nature of
science
Evidence,
models, and
explanations
4.5 The Building
Challenge
Students design and
construct a structure
then test it for the ability
towithstand forces that
could be encountered
in an earthquake. This
can be used s a
performance
assessment of the
entire unit.
Abilities
related to
scientific
inquiry
Understanding
about
scientific
inquiry
Properties &
changes in
matter
(physical)
Forces and
motions
Interactions
of energy
and matter
Abilities of
technological
design
Understanding
about science
and
technology
Natural and
human-induced
hazards
Science as a
human
endeavor
Evidence,
models, and
explanations
A G U
/
F E M A
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E I S M I C
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