CASCADIA SUBDUCTION ZONE (CSZ) HAZARDS NGSS PERFORMANCE TASK

California, Oregon, and Washington residents must prepare for several geologic hazards. Living with the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) just off the coast, there is potential for tectonic hazards such as a megathrust earthquake, liquefaction, tsunami, and volcanic eruption to occur. Using several activities, students learn about the dynamics of each hazard. After gaining an understanding of each hazard, students then use data from the Washington Geologic Information Portal (WGIP) to determine the potential risk of each hazard at Aberdeen, Centralia, and Tacoma and develop a survival action plan specific for each location. After completing this lesson, students can make decisions based on evidence and their knowledge about the best place to live regarding tectonic hazards. This lesson supports NGSS ESS 3-1.