Raising Seismic Risk Awareness through Geoscience Education in Primary School

Earthquakes are a fundamental component of the Earth’s geophysical evolution and among the most significant natural hazards affecting human societies, particularly in seismically active regions. This study presents an educational project designed for 10-year-old students, aiming to introduce earthquakes both as natural geophysical processes and as phenomena with direct impacts on human life. The project was implemented in a Greek primary school during an optional Geoscience lesson and had a total duration of 10 hours. The initial concept was inspired by the students’ interests, as they live in Crete, an island characterized by high seismic activity. Through experiments, hands-on activities, visual representations and an interview with a professional geologist students explored fundamental concepts related to the Earth’s internal structure, tectonic plate movements and seismic activity. They constructed a simple seismograph and a seismic simulation platform to investigate key principles of earthquake-resistant construction. STEM principles were further integrated through the design of earthquake alarm systems using basic electric circuits. As a final outcome, students created digital books to document their investigations. The e-books include illustrations of the Earth’s layers, maps of tectonic plates and safety guidelines for earthquake preparedness. Overall, the project demonstrates how experiential and inquiry-based learning can foster scientific literacy, risk awareness and an understanding of human responsibility in relation to natural hazards.