Lesson Plan Exemplar

Inquiry-Based Science Teaching Approach

Topic/Title: Intensity and Magnitude (Earth Science - Grade 8)
Time 120 minutes
Allotment:
Learning Competencies/Objective:
At the end of the cycle, the students should be able to:
 Differentiate the intensity of an earthquake from its magnitude.
 Discuss the PEIS and their meanings.
ELICIT MATERIALS
Show at least 3 pictures of different scenes on the Pictures downloaded
effects of earthquake in a particular from the internet
place/province/city.
GUIDE QUESTION:
1. Can you exactly tell how hard does the
ground shake during the earthquake in each
picture?
2. In which picture do you think the shaking was
weakest? In which picture the shaking was
strongest?
ENGAGE
Show a short videoclip about the latest Earthquake Videoclip downloaded
Breaking News that happened in a particular from Youtube
province/city in our country.
GUIDE QUESTION:
1. How strong was the reported earthquake?
2. How did PHIVOLCS describe the strength of
the earthquake?
EXPLORE
DESIGNING THE ACTIVITY: Articles about the latest
Online Investigation – Exploring Major Earthquakes earthquake disasters
of the Recent Past worldwide
PROCEDURE:
1. Break students into groups of four. Each
group is responsible for one of the four
articles below.
2. Have each group read an article and answer
the questions that follow.

Oaxa, Mexico – September 23, 2017

1. What was the magnitude of this
earthquake?
2. Why was the devastation so immense?
3. What were the consequences of the
earthquake?
China – August 8, 2017
1. What was the magnitude of this
earthquake?
2. What were the consequences of the
 earthquake?
Ostrova, Russia – July 17, 2017
1. What was the magnitude of this
earthquake?
2. Why was the earthquake so devastating?
3. What were the consequences of the
earthquake?
Guatemala – June 14, 2017
1. What was the magnitude of this
earthquake?
2. What were the consequences of the
earthquake?
EXPLAIN
1. Have students report back about what they Students’ output
find. Let the representative of each group
present their findings.
2. Answer the questions below each article.
ELABORATE
Teacher’s Discussion Part I: How strong is the Powerpoint
earthquake? Presentation/Videoclips

An earthquake may be described in two ways:

intensity and magnitude.
 The intensity of an earthquake gives us an
idea of how strong or weak the shaking is.
The intensity of an earthquake is determined
by observing the effects of the earthquake in
different places. Houses, buildings and other
structures are inspected. People are
interviewed about what they saw, how they
felt or what they did.
 Another way of describing the strength of an
earthquake is by magnitude. Recall that as
rocks bend along the fault, energy is stored
little by little. When the rocks suddenly snap,
the stored energy is released. The released
energy can be calculated by scientists and is
called the magnitude of the earthquake.

Part II: Discuss the PEIS and their meanings.

I – Scarcely Perceptible
II – Slightly Felt
III – Weak
IV – Moderately Strong
V - Strong
VI – Very Strong
VII – Destructive
VIII – Very Destructive
IX – Devastating
X – Completely Devastating
EVALUATE
1. Using the same grouping of students, ask Students’ costumes
each group to prepare a Role Play and props
Presentation depicting the different
earthquake intensity (Based on the PEIS).
2. Prepare a “draw lots” of the 10 Intensity
Scales based on the PEIS. The group leader
will be the one to pick.
3. The group will present a role play portraying
the situation and occurrences during an
earthquake in a particular intensity scale (that
the leader had picked) as described under
the PEIS discussed by the teacher.
EXTEND
Have the students conduct an interview among their Interview
neighborhood regarding their earthquake sheets/Questionnaires
experiences.
Ask them to use the guide questions below.
1. What were you doing?
2. Were you scared?
3. How did you react?
4. Was there damage?
5. What did it feel like afterwards?
6. What was on your mind after the earthquake?
7. How did this directly affect you?
REFERENCES
Science 8 Learner’s Materials, pp. 127-130
Science 8 Teacher’s Guide, pp. 81-83

Prepared by:

Sharon G. Pamintuan

Guillermo D. Mendoza National High School

Cluster II