Learning About Earthquakes: Introduction to the Quake-Catcher Network and Lab
Lesson Plan by Deborah Kane and Dave van Dusen

The Quake-Catcher Network is a program for installing inexpensive ground motion sensors in classrooms, homes, museums, and anywhere a desktop computer may be placed. This activity reviews the concept of acceleration and then introduces students to a sensor that records acceleration. The lab exercise leads the students through several exploratory questions and suggestions and ultimately asks them to consider what this sensor is used for outside of the classroom. This activity requires advance preparation to order the sensors, as noted in the Description and Teaching Materials (below).
  • Students review the concept of acceleration and then explore the output signal of an accelerometer.
  • This activity is intended to begin with the lab exercise and then use the slides in a follow-up discussion to describe the Quake-Catcher Network.
  • The lab exercise requires an accelerometer. These can be obtained for classroom use from the Quake-Catcher Network for an inexpensive shipping cost (limit of 3, contact information in References, below). This activity can also be modified to use accelerometers built-in to many laptops these days with the free QCN Live software (see References to determine if your laptop has an accelerometer).
  • This activity was developed for use in a high school (grades 9-12) earth science class. The goal of this lesson is for students to learn how earthquakes are recorded. Lesson duration: 45 minutes.
  • This lab is designed for students to learn what types of data come out of the QCN sensors (or built-in accelerometers). Assessment could be done through interaction with students as they complete the exercise. If the “Earthquake Lesson: Magnitude and Intensity Lab” is used following this exercise, then students will need to know how to use the sensors and software.
  • No answer key is provided; this lab exercise is meant to be experiential. Additional information about the QCN sensors can be found on their website.

Quake Catcher Network


Trigger Map

Lesson Materials
Related Earthquake Lessons
Lesson Specifics
  • Grade Level: 9-12
  • Time Frame: 45 minutes
  • California Science Standard 3d: "Plate tectonics operating over geologic time has changed the patterns of land, sea, and mountains on Earth’s surface. As the basis for understanding this concept: Students know why and how earthquakes occur and the scales used to measure their intensity and magnitude."
  • California Science Standard 9b: "The geology of California underlies the state’s wealth of natural resources as well as its natural hazards. As a basis for understanding this concept: Students know the principal natural hazards in different California regions and the geologic basis of those hazards."
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