Mini-Lesson

Cause and Effect

Mini-Lesson: Grades 4-6

Objective: Students will examine the effects of earthquakes.

1. Tell students that a powerful earthquake has just happened in China. Ask students to state what they know about earthquakes. (Possible responses may include Earthquakes happen when the Earth's plates suddenly shift. They make buildings shake. Sometimes, earthquakes destroy buildings and roads.)

2. As they read the timeforkids.com news story A Massive Earthquake Rocks China have students note the effects of the Chinese earthquake. After reading, students will share what they've learned. Explain that these are the kinds of important details that writers must include in news stories.

Extend Learning: Challenge students to create a science glossary for this timeforkids.com news story. Include the words earthquake, quake, magnitude, tremor, epicenter and aftershock.