This webquest is geared toward the study of Natural Disasters. It is intended for 6th grade students and any other students who are studying natural disasters; such as Hurricane Sandy. It hits on several standards including research and speaking. Students are required to prepare a presentation to show what they have learned and know.
Introduction
The New Dorp/New York Public Library on Staten Island is currently partnering with Sandy Storyline to present an opportunity to hear and share first person stories of recovery and remembrance. This exhibit allows you to interact with audio, video, photography and text stories to better understand how lives were affected by Hurricane Sandy. This is considered an Oral History Project.
We are challenging all Sixth grade students at NWP to develop an oral history project that could be submitted for possible acceptance to Sandy Storyline.
Task
This oral history project will include: 1) audio, video and text of your own experience before, during and after the hurricane;2) audio, video and text of a family member’s experience before, during and after the hurricane;3) interview of one Staten Island community member who worked with the aftermath of the storm;4) Recap of the weather conditions before, during and after the storm through analysis of weather maps and weather reports;5) Analysis of two other primary source documents detailing science and community issues in Staten Island that existed either during and/or after the storm 
Format: You are able to choose the format that you will use to display your project. This could include: A) power point presentation embedding text, graphics and audioB) prezi presentation embedding text, graphics and audioC) fakebook template that offers links to your research findingsD) newspaper template that offers links to different pieces of your projectE) other – if you have another idea in how to present your work, please complete the presentation storyboard outline to Mr. Stabach for approval
Process
Part 1
The Science of a Hurricane:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101-videos/tornadoes-101?source=relatedvideo
What is one thing you already know about hurricanes before watching the video?
______________________________________________________________________
What tools do scientists use to research hurricanes?
______________________________________________________________________
What are two facts that you found most interesting?
______________________________________________________________________
What was one fact that you found most surprising?
______________________________________________________________________
Reviewing Superstorm Sandy:
http://oceantoday.noaa.gov/makingofasuperstorm/
What happened in the atmosphere that allowed this superstorm to form?
______________________________________________________________________
Explain the track of the storm - where did it begin and where did it end?
______________________________________________________________________
What are two facts that you found most interesting?
______________________________________________________________________
What was one fact that you found most surprising?
______________________________________________________________________
Superstorm Sandy: A Timeline of Events
Click on to this site that provides a timeline of events prior and after Hurricane Sandy makes landfall on NYC. Focus only on the dates from October 22 to November 2.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/world/americas/hurricane-sandy-fast-facts/
1) Pick a date when you think that people in the NY region were starting to get worried that this was going to be a dangerous storm.
2) Use evidence from the timeline to support your selection.
Images of the Storm
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/11/04/us/2012-sandy-POD-6.html#/?slide=0
Click on the following link. Choose 2 images that you want to consider. For each image:
1) Describe what you see
______________________________________________________________________
2) What was the photographer trying to communicate?
______________________________________________________________________
3) How does the picture make you feel?
______________________________________________________________________
Furthering Your Understanding:
You have spent this class period reviewing the science of a hurricane and looking closely at the events that occurred with Hurricane Sandy here in our own city. At this point, you should have questions of your own that you would like to further investigate to better understand this storm. You may want to think about the implications of the storm in terms of politics and leadership, economics, history of hurricanes, how social media (for example, facebook, twitter, instragram) was utilized during the storm, hurricanes and climate change, and/or the psychology of natural disasters.
What 2 questions might you be interested in researching further?
Question 1:
I chose this question because: ________________________________________________
Question 2:
I chose this question because: ________________________________________________
http://www.esri.com/services/disaster-response/hurricanes/hurricane-san…
Part 2
The interviews.
1) Audio, video and text of your own experience before, during and after the hurricane.2) Audio, video and text of a family member’s experience before, during and after the hurricane.3) Interview of one Staten Island community member who worked with the aftermath of the storm.
Be prepared to ask insightful interview questions that are open-ended.
Part 3
Upload all audio, video, and text into a folder and create one of the following:
A) power point presentation embedding text, graphics and audioB) prezi presentation embedding text, graphics and audioC) fakebook template that offers links to your research findingsD) newspaper template that offers links to different pieces of your project
Evaluation
Sandy Oral History Rubric
|
Category |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Score |
|
Context |
Gives a clear and thorough description and full understanding of the topic |
Gives a clear description with understanding of the topic |
Gives somewhat of a description of the topic |
Topic is missing key components and main ideas |
|
|
Interview |
Effectively combines quotes, data, and images to convey story |
Somewhat effectively combines quotes, data, and images to convey story |
Some, but not all, quotes, data, and images convey the story |
Ineffective use of quotes, data, and image |
|
|
Organization |
Project flows smoothly, and logically, using transitions to connect a plethora of ideas |
Project flows logistically with a use of transitions |
Project flows awkwardly with some use of transitions |
Project flow is shaky, with little use of transitions |
|
|
Presentation
|
Project is presented professionally, with minimal errors and gives the viewer a vivid sense of the storyline |
Project is adequate with some errors, presenting the viewer with a strong sense of storyline |
Project gives a limited view of storyline and contains many errors |
Project gives an incomplete view of the storyline and contains many errors |
|
Conclusion
Since you have all done an exemplary job sharing your oral history account of Hurricane Sandy, we will be taking a class field trip to the American Museum of Natural History to further explore their special exhibit of Natural Disasters.While at the Museum, you will focus on different natural disasters.
