Introduction
Natural disasters cause widespread damage to the earth's surface and are often unexpected, sudden and overwhelming. They cause thousands of deaths worldwide and cost tens of billions of dollars in disaster aid, disruption of businesses, and destruction of homes. It's good to know about the different kinds of natural disasters that could occur so that you can be prepared. Some natural disasters are wild fires, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and tornados (twisters).
Task
You are a member of a team of natural disaster experts. Your team must use the internet to research facts about the causes, effects and what precautions to take (i.e. what you should do before, during and possibly after) regarding your natural disaster. Then you must create a poster to educate the public about your particular natural disaster and what impact it would have if it occured in your local area.
Process
There are five experts in each team. Your team will be assigned a natural disaster from:
- Wild Fires
- Tsunamis
- Earthquakes
- Volcanoes
- Floods
- Tornadoes (Twisters)
1) Fill out what you know and what you want to know about your
assigned natural disaster in point form in the K-W-L table, then
save your K-W-L table on your computer for use later.
Using the web links provided, your team is to:
2) Research the natural disaster that your group has been assigned.
3) Find 5 facts about the causes and effects of your natural disaster.
4) Find out precautions to take (i.e. what you should do before,
during and possibly after your natural disaster).
5) Create a poster to educate the public about your natural disaster
and what impact it would have if it occured in your local area.
6) Fill out what you have learned about your natural disaster
in your previously saved K-W-L table. 7) Present your poster to other classes in your school as a
Public Service Announcement (PSA) so as to inform them of the
dangers involved and how to protect themselves in the event of a
natural disaster. 8) While groups are presenting their posters, listen and mark other
groups using the Peer Assessment Table. 9) Complete a Self-Assessment Table based on how well you think
you completed the task. Resources
Natural Disaster Precautions
Precautions to take (what to do) in the event of a natural disaster
Natural Disaster Information Earthquakes for Kids Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response Earthquakes vs. Volcanoes Earthquake Facts Frequently Asked Questions about Earthquakes The Disaster Area Natural Disasters Without Warning Natural Hazards Gateway
Welcome to Tsunami What is a Tsunami? National Geographic - Wild Fires Twisters Volcanoes Online Natural Disasters in Australia
Evaluation
Evaluation
You must complete these tools as assessment:
1) Peer Assessment Table
2) Self Assessment Table
3) K-W-L Table
You will be evaluated using the following criteria sheet:
Natural Disaster Assessment Task Criteria Sheet
Student Name: Teacher: _____________
|
Criteria
|
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Ability to research, plan and write notes on natural disaster
|
Research is relevant and accurate to natural disaster.
|
Research which is mostly relevant to natural disaster.
|
Research which is sometimes relevant to natural disaster.
|
Research is mostly copied directly from websites.
|
Research totally copied.
|
|
Poster Presentation Skills |
Displays expert knowledge of natural disaster with a very clear, expressive voice. Does not need notes or prompts.
|
Excellent knowledge of natural disaster with a clear expressive voice. Does not need notes or prompts.
|
Good knowledge of natural disaster with a clear voice. Needs little notes or prompts. |
Little knowledge of natural disaster with a lack of voice projection. Relies on notes or prompts. |
No knowledge of natural disaster with a lack of voice projection. Relies entirely on notes or prompts. |
|
Team Work
|
Higher than expected level of cooperation and leadership.
|
Expected level of cooperation and leadership. |
Average level of cooperation in groups.
|
Average level of cooperation in groups with adult intervention. |
No evidence of cooperation or leadership. |
Comments:
/15 = %
Conclusion
Natural Disasters may be unexpected and sudden sometimes but there are many things that we can do to prepare for them and also recover from them. It is a good idea to be aware of what could happen in the event of a natural disaster and what action to take.
When such an event impacts a community it is important to:
1) Organize an evacuation plan and establish an emergency
meeting place should your family get separated.
2) Learn how to shut off all utilities.
3) Learn which weather conditions could prompt disasters, and
when these conditions occur, listen to radio or TV broadcasts for emergency information. Evacuate immediately if told to do
so.
4) Make a family emergency kit.
Remember: Be aware, prepared, safe and happy!