Faults and Earthquakes

Lesson Plans and Activities

Targeted Age: MATERIALS NEEDED

Elementary to High School
• Colored pencils or crayons
Activity Structure:
Individual assignment • Scissors
• Tape
Indiana Standards and Objectives:
3.PS.1, 4.ESS.2, 7.ESS.3, 7.ESS.4, • Printed copies of fault block activity
ES.6.7, ES.5.6, ES.6.5, ES.6.7

Introduction

In this lesson, students will create three-dimensional (3-D) blocks out of paper to learn
about the types of faulting that occur at the Earth’s surface and its interior. Students will
manipulate three fault blocks to demonstrate a normal fault, reverse fault, and strike-
slip fault, and explain how movement along a fault generates earthquakes because of the
sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust.

Background Information

The outer crust of the Earth is divided into huge plates, much like a cracked eggshell.
Driven by convection currents that permit heat to escape from the Earth’s interior, the
plates move at a rate of about a ½ inch to 4 inches per year, displacing continental land
masses and ocean floor alike. The forces that move the plates create stresses within the
Earth’s crust, and can cause the crust to suddenly fracture. The area of contact between
the two fractured crustal masses is called a fault. Earthquakes result from sudden
movements along faults, creating a release of energy. Movement along a fault can be
horizontal, vertical, or both.

Studies show that the crust under the central United States was torn apart, or rifted,
about 600 million years ago. This rift did not completely separate the crust into
individual plates, but it did create zones of faulting in the Mississippi River Valley region.
Indiana earthquakes that have occurred in the last 200 years are related to these now-
deeply buried faults. Many of the mapped faults in Indiana are in the southwestern corner
of the state. These faults extend into Illinois and northern Kentucky and are collectively
known as the Wabash Valley Fault System. Because the crust is weak in this area, the
faults are likely candidates for future movement.

Faults and Earthquakes 1 of 5

The point on the Earth’s surface directly about the center of an earthquake is called the
epicenter. During the last two centuries, earthquakes having epicenters that originate in
Indiana have been relatively minor events. However, this has not always been the case.
Researchers have found dozens of ancient sandblows, which give evidence that at least
six major earthquakes with epicenters in Indiana happened in the last 12,000 years.
The largest of these appears to have had an epicenter at or near Vincennes; this event is
estimated as having been more powerful than the Northridge earthquake that struck the
Los Angeles area in January 1994.

Vocabulary

Compression – a stress that squeezes rocks together resulting from forces applied
perpendicular to a fault plane
Hanging Wall – a block of crust that lies beneath the fault plane
Hypocenter – the point within the Earth’s crust where an earthquake begins; also
commonly termed the focus
Earthquake – the shaking or vibration of the ground surface in response to the sudden
release of energy caused by fault movement
Epicenter – the point on the Earth’s surface vertically above the hypocenter
Fault – a fracture in the Earth’s crust where one side moves relative to the other
Fault Plane – the flat (planar) surface along which there is movement during an
earthquake
Foot Wall – a block of crust that is located above the fault plane
Normal Fault – a fracture in the Earth’s crust where the hanging wall moves down
relative to the foot wall
Reverse Fault – a fracture in the Earth’s crust where the hanging wall moves up relative
to the foot wall
Shear – a stress that moves rock in opposite directions resulting from forces applied
parallel to a fault plane
Strike-Slip Fault – a fracture in the Earth’s crust where two blocks of crust move
laterally relative to one another
Tectonic Plates – the rigid, thin, irregularly-shaped slabs of solid rock that move
relative to one another on the outer surface of the Earth
Tension – a stress that pulls rocks apart resulting from forces applied perpendicular to a
fault plane

Faults and Earthquakes 2 of 5

 Teacher Reference Page

Fault Fault Blocks

A fracture in the Earth’s crust where one side Fault blocks represent blocks of the Earth’s
moves relative to the other. Sudden movements crust. Each color represents a layer of the Earth,
in faults cause earthquakes. while the diagonal black lines represent faults in
the Earth’s crust.
The fault plane in this diagram is the area of
contact between the two fault blocks. Fault In this position, the fault blocks represent
planes may contain striations or slickensides unfaulted, or unmoved, crust.
that can indicate the direction of fault motion.

Foot Wall Hanging Wall

A foot wall is a block of crust that lies under- A hanging wall is a block of crust that is located
neath a fault plane. above a fault plane. Its shape rests or hangs on
the foot wall.
Hint for Identification: If a person were able to
stand on the fault plane, their feet would be on Hint for Identification: If a person were able to
the foot wall. stand on the fault plane, they could hang onto
the hanging wall.

Faults and Earthquakes 3 of 5

Teacher Reference Page – Types of Faults

Normal Fault
In this position, the hanging wall moved down rela-
tive to the foot wall, indicating normal fault activity.
This picture shows that the central hanging wall
moved down relative to the other foot walls. When
a hanging wall moves down, a cliff face is formed,
called a “fault scarp.”

All of the known faults in Indiana are normal faults.

Reverse Fault
In this position, the hanging wall moved up relative
to the foot wall, indicating reverse fault activity.
This picture shows that the central hanging wall was
pushed up relative to the foot wall.

Strike-Slip Fault
In this position, the blocks of crust have laterally
moved relative to each other, indicating strike-slip
fault activity. Lateral, or side-to-side, motion does
not produce a fault scarp but can create weaker areas
of rock where fault blocks slide past one another.

The Earth is complex! In real life, faults can combine several of these movements.
For example, the famous San Andreas Fault in California has a strike-slip motion
95 percent of the time and a reverse fault motion 5 percent of the time.

Faults and Earthquakes 4 of 5

Procedure

1. Distribute the printable fault blocks and student data sheets to each student. Review
the vocabulary terms and earthquake history of Indiana prior to beginning the
activity.

2. Instruct students to color the blocks. Each block has five layers with numbers to guide
coloring. Students should color each numbered layer the same color on each block;
for example, layer 1 is red on all blocks, layer 2 is green on all blocks, and so forth.

3. Instruct students to
carefully cut out the fault
block along the outer
solid black lines. Once
cut out, students should
fold on the dotted lines
to form the blocks. Tape
the flaps together to
create a 3-D fault block.
Repeat until all three
fault blocks are assembled.

4. Once the fault blocks are assembled, students should manipulate the blocks and
locate the footwall, hanging wall, fault, and epicenter.

5. Once students have observed the fault blocks, compare and contrast the types of
faulting. Instruct students to use their reference sheet and simulate each type of
fault with the 3-D fault blocks, emphasizing the relative motions of the footwall and
hanging wall.

6. Ask the class what relationship exists between faulting and earthquakes. Discuss
compressional forces along tectonic plate boundaries.

7. Allow students to review the activity through the reflection questions.

What is the relationship between faults and

earthquakes? Ask students to demonstrate the types
of faulting that form from compressional forces.

Faults and Earthquakes 5 of 5

 Faults and Earthquakes
Lesson Plans and Activities

Name: MATERIALS NEEDED

_________________________
• Colored pencils or crayons
Class Period:
_________________________ • Scissors
• Tape
Vocabulary: • Printed copies of fault block activity

Compression – a stress that squeezes rocks together resulting from forces applied
perpendicular to a fault plane
Hanging Wall – a block of crust that lies beneath the fault plane
Hypocenter – the point within the Earth’s crust where an earthquake begins; also
commonly termed the focus
Earthquake – the shaking or vibration of the ground surface in response to the sudden
release of energy caused by fault movement
Epicenter – the point on the Earth’s surface vertically above the hypocenter
Fault – a fracture in the Earth’s crust where one side moves relative to the other
Fault Plane – the flat (planar) surface along which there is movement during an
earthquake
Foot Wall – a block of crust that is located above the fault plane
Normal Fault – a fracture in the Earth’s crust where the hanging wall moves down
relative to the foot wall
Reverse Fault – a fracture in the Earth’s crust where the hanging wall moves up relative
to the foot wall
Shear – a stress that moves rock in opposite directions resulting from forces applied
parallel to a fault plane
Strike-Slip Fault – a fracture in the Earth’s crust where two blocks of crust move
laterally relative to one another
Tectonic Plates – the rigid, thin, irregularly-shaped slabs of solid rock that move
relative to one another on the outer surface of the Earth
Tension – a stress that pulls rocks apart resulting from forces applied perpendicular to a
fault plane

Introduction

In this lesson, students will create three-dimensional (3-D) blocks out of paper to learn
about the types of faulting that occur at the Earth’s surface and its interior. Students will
manipulate three fault blocks to demonstrate a normal fault, reverse fault, and strike-
slip fault, and explain how movement along a fault generates earthquakes because of the
sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust.
Student Copy - Faults and Earthquakes 1 of 7
 Student Reference Page

Fault Fault Blocks

A fracture in the Earth’s crust where one side Fault blocks represent blocks of the Earth’s
moves relative to the other. Sudden movements crust. Each color represents a layer of the Earth,
in faults cause earthquakes. while the diagonal black lines represent faults in
the Earth’s crust.
The fault plane in this diagram is the area of
contact between the two fault blocks. Fault In this position, the fault blocks represent
planes may contain striations or slickensides unfaulted, or unmoved, crust.
that can indicate the direction of fault motion.

Foot Wall Hanging Wall

A foot wall is a block of crust that lies under- A hanging wall is a block of crust that is located
neath a fault plane. above a fault plane. Its shape rests or hangs on
the foot wall.
Hint for Identification: If a person were able to
stand on the fault plane, their feet would be on Hint for Identification: If a person were able to
the foot wall. stand on the fault plane, they could hang onto
the hanging wall.

Student Copy - Faults and Earthquakes 2 of 7

Student Reference Page – Types of Faults

Normal Fault
In this position, the hanging wall moved down rela-
tive to the foot wall, indicating normal fault activity.
This picture shows that the central hanging wall
moved down relative to the other foot walls. When
a hanging wall moves down, a cliff face is formed,
called a “fault scarp.”

All of the known faults in Indiana are normal faults.

Reverse Fault
In this position, the hanging wall moved up relative
to the foot wall, indicating reverse fault activity.
This picture shows that the central hanging wall was
pushed up relative to the foot wall.

Strike-Slip Fault
In this position, the blocks of crust have laterally
moved relative to each other, indicating strike-slip
fault activity. Lateral, or side-to-side, motion does
not produce a fault scarp but can create weaker areas
of rock where fault blocks slide past one another.

The Earth is complex! In real life, faults can combine several of these movements.
For example, the famous San Andreas Fault in California has a strike-slip motion
95 percent of the time and a reverse fault motion 5 percent of the time.

Student Copy - Faults and Earthquakes 3 of 7

 Student Fault Block Activity

Indiana Geological Survey | Indiana University Student Copy - Faults and Earthquakes 4 of 7
611 N. Walnut Grove Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405-2208 | 812.855.7636 | info@indiana.edu | igs.indiana.edu
 Student Fault Block Activity

Indiana Geological Survey | Indiana University Student Copy - Faults and Earthquakes 5 of 7
611 N. Walnut Grove Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405-2208 | 812.855.7636 | info@indiana.edu | igs.indiana.edu
 Student Fault Block Activity

Indiana Geological Survey | Indiana University Student Copy - Faults and Earthquakes 6 of 7
611 N. Walnut Grove Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405-2208 | 812.855.7636 | info@indiana.edu | igs.indiana.edu
Reflection Questions

1. Draw a cross-section of a normal fault in the space below. Label the following
vocabulary terms on your drawing: fault, foot wall, hanging wall, epicenter,
hypocenter

2. What are the three types of faults generated in the Earth’s crust? Use vocabulary
terms, such as “hanging wall” and “foot wall,” to describe each fault.

3. Match each type of stress to its corresponding type of fault. Explain your
choices.
Hint: think about the direction of movement caused by the stress

Type of Stress Fault Produced? Justification

NF – Normal Fault
RF – Reverse fault
SF – Strike-slip fault

Compression

Tension

Shear

4. What is the relationship between faults and earthquakes?

Student Copy - Faults and Earthquakes 7 of 7