My "eclectic simulation exercise in rescue and recovery", which is recommended for grades three though eight, is a suggested addition to any teacher's library. The book outlines the set-up and execution of a day-long project that will have your students talking for years to come.
Ultimately, Project Earthquake is not about geology or seismic activity; it is about giving students an experience about which to write. After doing this activity for several years in my own fourth grade classroom, I am always amazed that my fourth graders can't stop writing when their time is up.
It's available on Amazon, right now, for only $8.61 - a little something to get your students thinking.