How can you tell they’ve got it: What Is an Earthquake?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Describe an earthquake as the ground shaking suddenly; Explain that earthquakes vary in strength from barely noticeable to very strong; Describe what it might feel like during an earthquake. Or just try it together: Can your child explain that an earthquake is when the ground suddenly shakes, and that some earthquakes shake harder than others?

Science Volcanoes & Earthquakes Ages 5–7

What Is an Earthquake

Your child knows an earthquake is when the ground suddenly shakes. Some are so gentle you barely feel them. Others shake very hard.

In curriculum terms

Know what an earthquake is: a sudden shaking of the ground that can be strong or weak

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Describe an earthquake as the ground shaking suddenly
Explain that earthquakes vary in strength from barely noticeable to very strong
Describe what it might feel like during an earthquake

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Try this together

Can your child explain that an earthquake is when the ground suddenly shakes, and that some earthquakes shake harder than others?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Nothing on the map comes before this — it’s a starting point.

What Is an Earthquakethis skill · ages 5–7

Unlocks

Ring of Fireages 7–9Mapping earthquake patterns requires knowing what earthquakes are

Tsunamisages 7–9Tsunamis are caused by undersea earthquakes

Why Earthquakes Happenages 7–9Understanding earthquake causes builds on knowing what an earthquake is

Earthquake Safetyages 5–7Earthquake safety benefits from knowing what an earthquake is

Fast & Slow Earth Changesages 5–7Quick/slow changes concept benefits from earthquake as example of quick change

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Earth Is Made of Rockages 5–7 Earthquake Safetyages 5–7 Fast & Slow Earth Changesages 5–7 Power of Eruptionsages 5–7

All Volcanoes & Earthquakes skills →