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6th grade Forecasting storms and earthquakes, and how warnings keep people safe worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

Level: Building Confidence · On Level · Challenge Me

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Forecasting storms and earthquakes, and how warnings keep people safe

Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

  1. "Can you predict earthquakes?" (USGS question page). Which statement about earthquakes is true, by the USGS page Bo reads?

    • Scientists give chances over years, not a date
    • Earthquakes give a week of warning
    • Scientists can name the day of the next big one
    • Earthquakes happen mostly in summer

  2. A time strip from minutes to days, with no marks yet. When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning, about how much time does it usually give, by Kira's reading?

    • A full week
    • Several days, like a hurricane
    • Minutes, so act right away
    • No time; tornadoes give no warning of any kind

  3. Drawing of a house plan with an inside room on the lowest floor marked SAFE ROOM. A tornado warning is issued for Luz's county. What should Luz's family do?

    • Keep an eye on the sky and wait
    • Open the windows to let the air out
    • Plan to check the news tomorrow
    • Go to the safe room right away

  4. A flood watch is issued for Milo's town after days of rain upstream. What does it mean?

    • It is safe to ignore it until water arrives
    • Flooding is possible; stay alert and be ready
    • The river has already gone down
    • Flooding is happening now; move at once

  5. At an earthquake drill, what do USGS and ShakeOut teach Noah's class to do when shaking starts?

    • Stand in a doorway
    • Run outside while the ground shakes
    • Wait to make a plan until it stops
    • Drop, Cover, and Hold On

  6. Thunder rumbles during Pia's soccer practice. What does the National Weather Service say to do?

    • Stand under a tall tree
    • Go indoors right away
    • Wait until a lightning warning comes
    • Keep playing until rain starts

  7. At the beach, Ren feels strong, long shaking, and the sea pulls far back from shore. What is the safe move, according to NOAA?

    • Move to high ground or inland right away
    • Walk out to look at the bare sea floor
    • Wait on the beach for an official warning
    • Stay on the beach until an hour passes

  8. Read this first

    Table (NHC, Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale), with columns Category and Sustained wind

    Category 1, 74–95 mph; Category 2, 96–110 mph; Category 3, 111–129 mph; Category 4, 130–156 mph; Category 5, 157 mph or higher.

  9. A hurricane has sustained winds of 120 mph. Using the National Hurricane Center table, which category does Tala find?

    • Category 1, the strongest
    • Category 3
    • Category 4
    • Category 2

  10. Another hurricane has sustained winds of 100 mph. Which category is it, by Zee's reading of the same table?

    • Category 4, since a higher number is weaker
    • Category 1
    • Category 2
    • Category 3

  11. On the Saffir-Simpson scale, what does a higher category number tell Esme about a hurricane?

    • The storm has stronger sustained winds
    • The storm is wider
    • The storm is weaker
    • The storm is moving more slowly
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6th grade Forecasting storms and earthquakes, and how warnings keep people safe worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Forecasting storms and earthquakes, and how warnings keep people safe. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can say which hazards can be forecast and how far ahead: hurricanes days, floods hours to days, tornado warnings minutes, earthquakes no date.
  • I can tell a watch from a warning, and read the hurricane wind scale and the forecast cone.
  • I can choose a preparation that fits a forecast, and read hazard data such as river gauges and volcano readings.

Standard: MS-ESS3-2

Words to know

forecast: A prediction of what is likely to happen, based on data

watch: The hazard is possible; get ready

warning: The hazard is happening or expected soon; act now

forecast cone: Where a hurricane's center will probably travel

hazard map: A map showing the chance of a hazard over coming years

flood stage: The river level where flooding begins

Common mistakes

Your child thought earthquakes can be predicted to the day. USGS says no one has ever predicted a major earthquake; scientists give chances over many years, so people prepare ahead.

Your child mixed up a watch and a warning. A watch means a hazard is possible, so get ready; a warning means it is happening or expected soon, so act now.

Your child planned to wait until the hazard arrived. The best time to make a plan and a kit is before, while things are calm. Make or check a family kit together.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with forecasting storms and earthquakes, and how warnings keep people safe?

Your child thought earthquakes can be predicted to the day. USGS says no one has ever predicted a major earthquake; scientists give chances over many years, so people prepare ahead.

Are these 6th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

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