STEM Earthquake Activity

Students learn more about plate tectonics when they have the opportunity to create earthquake resistant structures out of spaghetti noodles, mini marshmallows, and tape!

Building upon what they have learned about plate tectonics, students plan and design structures that are earthquake resistant and meet the minimum height requirement. These structures are then placed on a shake table to see if they can withstand the force of the ‘earthquake.’ Students are required to make a plan and design for their structure and work within the given budget to buy the materials they need. Students will learn what works and what they need to improve on to create an earthquake resistant design.

This is a great STEM learning activity for the students to build upon their classroom knowledge in a hands-on way. This class is best completed in a 45–60 minute class period.