Australian primary teachers planning an Earth and Space Sciences unit face a consistent problem: finding a resource that covers earthquake science accurately, pitches content at the right level, builds genuine comprehension rather than surface recall, and requires zero preparation time. This six-page print-and-go packet solves that completely.
Created by an experienced primary educator, every page uses child-friendly language, clear visual design, and scaffolded tasks that move students from reading to understanding to independent recall.
What is included?
· 2 x information pages covering what earthquakes are, what they feel like, what to do during an earthquake, the Richter Scale, and the largest recorded earthquake in history
· 2 x comprehension question worksheets requiring students to locate and retrieve information directly from the text
· 1 x guided note-taking worksheet with concept prompt boxes where students explain key ideas in their own words
· 1 x key facts and summary template to consolidate learning
How do I use this resource? Use as a standalone lesson, within a broader natural disasters unit, as a guided reading activity in literacy rotations, or as a structured homework task. Requires no prior research, no specialist science knowledge, and no preparation beyond printing.
Australian Curriculum Version 9 alignment
· AC9S5U03: The Earth's surface is shaped by tectonic plate movement and sudden events including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions (Year 5, Earth and Space Sciences) - primary alignment
· AC9S3U03 and AC9S4U03: Earth's surface changes over time as a result of natural processes (Years 3 and 4, Earth and Space Sciences)
· AC9S6U03: The Earth's surface is dynamic and shaped by internal and external processes over geological time (Year 6, Earth and Space Sciences)
· AC9E5LY06 and AC9E4LY06: Comprehension strategies including locating and retrieving information from informational texts (English, Years 3 to 6)
Who is this resource suitable for? Australian Years 3 to 6 (ages 8 to 12). Best suited to Year 5 as a core lesson. Accessible for capable Year 3 readers with support. Works well for Year 6 revision or early finisher tasks. Strong cross-curriculum fit with HASS natural disasters and community safety topics.
What format is this file? PPTX. Which is simply A4 pages in PowerPoint, however with that further step taken to visually flatten each page. This ensures no distortion of images, answer fields or fonts; I first-hand understand the frustration of downloading a beautiful resource ready for your lesson, only to discover the content on the pages go completely out of alignment when opened on a different device, and teachers just don't have time to play around trying to fix this! If for any reason you prefer a PDF, not to worry! Just right-click, select 'Save as PDF' and you have both options in one download. Simple, but options are important, so I hope this helps!
Can this be used in a natural disasters unit? Yes! Pairs perfectly alongside resources on volcanoes, floods, cyclones, and bushfires for an integrated Science and HASS unit.
Is this suitable for remote and regional schools? Yes! No internet, no devices, and no additional materials required beyond printing.
