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Science Launch G4 / Week 12 / Tuesday
2/6
Week 12 · Map Earth's Features

Tuesday

Patterns of shaking and fire
// Patterns on the planet and staying safe from hazards
⏱ about 15 min

Tuesday: Patterns of shaking and fire

Raven pins colored dots on a big world map. Red dots mark volcanoes. Yellow dots mark big earthquakes.

After an hour, she steps back. Rocket gasps. "The dots are not scattered everywhere. They make lines!"

"What do you notice about where most of the lines are?" Raven asks.

Rocket traces a giant loop with his finger. "Around the edges of the Pacific Ocean!"

Nova glows over the map. "I found a pattern," she says. "Scientists noticed it too. They gave it a name."

Features form patterns

Earthquakes and volcanoes do not happen just anywhere. Most happen in bands, often where continents meet oceans.

The biggest band circles the Pacific Ocean. People call it the Ring of Fire.

About 81 percent of the world's largest earthquakes happen along the rim of the Pacific Ocean.

Most of the world's active volcanoes above sea level are also near the Pacific.

Major mountain chains form inside continents or near their edges.

StatementTrue or false?
Most earthquakes happen in bands, not scattered everywhere.?
The Ring of Fire circles the Pacific Ocean.?
Volcanoes are spread evenly over the whole Earth.?
Many earthquakes happen where continents meet oceans.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEMaps reveal that earthquakes and volcanoes follow patterns.
The band of volcanoes and earthquakes around the Pacific is called the Ring of ____.
About what percent of the largest earthquakes happen along the Pacific rim?
Draw a simple world map. Draw a loop around the Pacific Ocean to show the Ring of Fire.

Why patterns matter

Maps of earthquakes and volcanoes help people plan.

Places along the Ring of Fire can prepare for shaking and eruptions.

Knowing the pattern helps people plan ahead.

PATTERN THINKING
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Which ocean does the Ring of Fire circle?
Where do many earthquakes happen?
Where do major mountain chains form?
HOW RAVEN FOUND THE PATTERN
  • ?She gathered data about earthquakes and volcanoes.
  • ?She marked each one on a map with a dot.
  • ?She stepped back and looked.
  • ?She saw the dots made lines.
  • ?She named the pattern: the Ring of Fire.
WHY THIS EXERCISEScientists find patterns by mapping lots of data.
Red dots on Raven's map marked ____.
Most active volcanoes above sea level are near the ____ Ocean.

You found one of Earth's biggest patterns! Tomorrow you engineer a building that can handle a shake.

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