Pupils could be given the Richter scale definitions, and a description of the effects (“feels like vibration of passing lorry”; “hanging objects start to swing around”; “doors swing open” etc). Help them understand the 30-fold energy increase for each step. Then get them to produce a table of the quakes mentioned here. In addition check the websites for evidence of tremors in the UK. news.bbc.co.uk1hiworld4136289.stm

KS4

Plotting on an A4 map of the Earth the earthquakevolcanomountainous regions will show the connection and highlight the continental plates; however “subduction” is the key to understanding the Earth’s activity.

Pupils can draw a series of illustrative diagrams, or teachers can use a data projector to show an animation of subduction from various websites.

KS5

There can be a serious attempt to understand detection using the Earth’s magnetic waves and sorting out P, S and L waves.