This book is designed for middle school students to learn scientific literacy through event-based science. Unlike traditional curricula, the event-based earth science module is a student-centered, interdisciplinary, inquiry-oriented program that emphasizes cooperative learning, teamwork, independent research, hands-on investigations, and exploration of authentic tasks. Each unit is centered around an earthquake that had a catastrophic impact on people and the environment. Students use this book to work in cooperative teams and play the roles of geologist, chief of transportation, director of utilities, city planner, architect, and civil engineer. (KHR)