Forces of Nature: Teacher's Overview

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• Preparation
• Tasks
• Assessment
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Overview

Forces of Nature, an interdisciplinary lesson, focuses on natural disasters that are happening all over the world. After researching and mapping natural disasters, students create a survey about natural disasters for friends or family members. The information gathered from the survey and student research is used to create a digital presentation that answers the driving question "Where in the world is the safest place to live?"

Student Pages

Online Student Activity

Introduction

Forces of Nature, an interdisciplinary lesson, focuses on natural disasters that are happening all over the world. After researching and mapping natural disasters, students create a survey about natural disasters for friends or family members. The information gathered from the survey and student research is used to create a digital presentation that answers the driving question "Where in the world is the safest place to live?"

Student Outcomes

After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

• Use email.
• Locate specific places on a map.
• Learn about natural disasters.
• Use the Internet to find information.
• Prepare and present a digital presentation.

Content Area and Grade Levels

Grade level: 4th & 5th Content Areas: Geography, Language Arts

Technology Usage

• Microsoft PowerPoint™
• Internet access
• Email

Resources

Online

• The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) Natural Disaster site
• The FEMA Site for Kids
• Common Questions About Avalanches
• Hurricane: Storm Science ­ Interactive page.
• Tsunami Science ­ Animated information on tsunamis.
• Earthquake Science ­ Animated information on earthquakes.
• Volcano Science ­ Animated information on volcanoes.
• Latest Weather Headlines from all over the world.

Off-line

• Encyclopedia
• The Weather Channel
• Newspapers: Local and national.
• Natural Disasters, Video. National Geographic, ISBN: 0-7922-3275-5
• Griffey, H. (1998). DK Readers: Volcanoes and other natural disasters. (Level 4: Proficient Readers).
• Simon, S. (1992). Storms. New York: Mulberry.

Materials

• Journals
• Individual/group maps
• Push Pins

Preparation

• Create a rubric that explains the necessary components for their completed projects.
• Establish the rule that students should use ONLY the school address, NEVER their home e-mail address when emailing from school. Students should be reminded that they are not to use their last names nor give out any personal information.
• Have books on topics readily available from school or public library.
• Post large maps of the world and the US for each group. Make sure each group has access to smaller maps or atlases.

Tasks

1. Instruct students to brainstorm with a partner about natural disasters. Pairs will name at least five natural disasters and explain their destructive nature. As pairs share responses, record on a large chart. Elicit what they want to learn during this discussion and record these questions as well.
2. Pose the driving question: "Given all the natural hazards, where in the world is the safest place to live?"
3. Have students create a journal to record research.
4. Pass out rubric to each group and explain expected tasks. Utilizing student input, create a legend for the class map. For example: blue-hurricanes, red-volcanoes, yellow-tornadoes, green-earthquakes. Post near class map and direct students to record in journals. Students use these symbols when creating their group map of natural disasters.
5. After grouping students, instruct them to create a questionnaire asking for specific information about individual experiences with natural disasters.
6. Students create and email the questionnaire to friends and relatives. Include in the questionnaire a request asking recipients to forward the questionnaire to others.
7. As questionnaires are returned, students record in journals the information, and plot the locations and events on their individual maps.
8. Students research to learn more about the destructive forces of nature and their locations. Information is recorded in journals.
9. Students create a PowerPoint™ presentation that answers the question, "Where in world is the safest place to live?" Group answers include justifications based on research.
10. Students present slide shows and group maps to class.
11. Compile all group information and plot on classroom map.
12. Encourage students to revise their opinions to the driving question based on new information.

Presentation

Each group presents one map that illustrates the results of their questionnaires as well as recent natural disasters in addition to a PowerPoint™ that answers the driving question.

Assessment

Create a rubric, either independently or with student input.

Downloading and Printing Files

These pages can be downloaded to your computer as files. Files can then be opened and printed. You can choose from two file formats:

Microsoft document format opens the files in Microsoft Word. You can make changes in the pages before printing them.

Acrobat Reader or Portable Document Format (pdf) opens the files in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Pages cannot be edited in this format. However, .pdf files are less likely to be distorted. Pages that contain graphics or large images look better in .pdf and print very nicely. For your convenience, Acrobat Reader can be accessed from this page.

Microsoft Word (.doc)

Forces of Nature -includes all materials and student pages.

Acrobat Reader (.pdf)

Forces of Nature -includes all materials and student pages.

About Acrobat Reader

Files in the .pdf format can be read using Acrobat Reader. Acrobat Reader is a free software. You can download and install it by clicking on the link below.

Standards

• New Mexico Content Standards
• Language Arts
• 1) Students will apply strategies and skills to comprehend information that is read, heard, and viewed. Benchmarks K-4, 5-8
• 11) Students will communicate effectively through speaking and writing. Benchmarks K-4, 5-8
• Science
• 5) Employ equipment, tools, a variety of techniques and information sources to gather, analyze, and interpret data. Benchmark 5-8
• 6) Explain that scientists make the results of their investigations public in ways that allow others to replicate their findings. Benchmark K-4
• Social Studies
• 3) Students will know, understand, and apply the language, tools, and skills of social studies. Benchmark 5-8
• 12) Students will know and understand physical environments and their relationships to ecosystems and human activities. Benchmark K-4

Credits

These lessons submitted by Carolyn Nicholson, Beth Robertson, and Terry Deaden, RETA participants. © 2000-2008 New Mexico's Regional Educational Technology Assistance program.