On December 3, 1990, the small town of New Madrid, Missouri and the surrounding region prepared for a devastating earthquake. It never occurred. The disaster had been predicted by Iben Browning, a consultant who purported to be (but was not) an expert in seismology. Students follow the timeline and record their own assessments and actions as the story unfolds. The lessons develop as students compare their initial impressions (and those of the residents) with the eventual outcome.

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Instructor's Narrative:

Allchin, D. (forthcoming, 2025). The great earthquake that wasnt. The Science Teacher.