At Woodsboro Elementary School, students in Mrs. Hawkins and Mrs. Livergood’s 4th/5th-grade combination class recently explored new Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) strategies while studying the essential question, “How are waves involved in earthquakes?”
Working collaboratively in AVID teams, students were assigned specific roles, including Focus Facilitator, Communication Expert, Team Manager, Graphic Designer, and Activities Director. Using their Cornell notes as a foundation, teams developed models demonstrating how earthquake waves function by experimenting with a Slinky. Throughout the activity, students applied academic vocabulary such as P-waves, S-waves, kinetic energy, and potential energy to describe the movement and effects of seismic waves.
The lesson emphasized collaboration, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry—key components of both AVID and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Building on this experience, students will continue working in their AVID teams to design models of earthquake-resistant buildings, applying their understanding of wave dynamics to real-world engineering challenges.
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