Can You Survive A Natural Disaster?

Have you ever been involved in a natural disaster? Natural disasters happen everywhere in the world and even here in Kentucky. Would you know what to do if you were suddenly caught in a storm? Do you know what kind of damage a natural disaster can cause? People are killed every year because they don't know what precautions to take. If people knew what to do during a natural disaster, then many lives would be saved.

Natural disasters are often unpredicatable and occur each year. Some of these include: tornadoes, floods, forest fires, hurricanes,and earthquakes. Your job is to increase awareness of the dangers associated with various natural disasters by creating a brochure. The brochure should tell about the weather conditions and other events that occur during a natural disaster and the precautions that need to be made in order to be safe. If you are successful in creating a brochure, lives will be saved.

To accomplish the task, there will be several activities for you to complete along the way that will enhance your knowledge about natural disasters. Follow the steps listed below:

1. The class will be divided up into groups of 4. Each group will draw a particular natural disaster from a box. Before you begin research on the internet, discuss with your group what you already know about your natural disaster. Print a copy of the KWHL chart to help keep track of your notes. KWHL . You will only fill out the K part now.

2. Now that you have done the pre-activity (brainstorming about your natural disaster) on your KWHL chart. It is time to begin your research. Below are some resources for you to use. While you are researching your natural disaster, keep in mind these questions: (1) What causes your storm to occur? (2) What kind of damage can happen because of your storm? (3) What type of precautions can be taken to stay safe? (4) Where do these storms occur? Write these questions on the W part of your KWHL chart. Share with your group ideas where you may find additional information about your natural disaster. Write your ideas in the H column. Please print the following question/answer sheet to help organize your answers as you find them.

3. Now that you know something about your natural disaster it's time to have a little fun. Click on the link below your natural disaster for a hands on activity.

3. Now that you have done the research on your natural disaster, please feel out the L part of your KWHL chart.

4. Finally, it is time to make your brochure. Be sure to include facts about the natural disaster that you collected from your research. Your brochure should include a weather forecast and a safety plan. You may make your brochure by hand or you may use Word on the computer. Be sure to include pictures as well. Remember, you are trying to save lives. Click here to view some pictures to include in your brochure.

You will be evaluated on group work (research) and individual work (brochure). You should show how well you gained knowledge about natural disasters in your brochure.

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4
Cooperation within a group.	Student did not cooperate in their group and caused disruptions.	Students made minor contributions to the groupand caused few disruptions.	Students cooperated in their group most of the time and did not cause disruptions.	Students cooperated in their group the entire time and did not cause any disruptions.
Research Notes	Students have an inadequate amount of notes for their research to complete their brochure..	Students' notes contains basic facts with little or no detailed data.	Students' notes contain basic and detailed facts which are organized and effective.	Students notes contain basic and detailed facts which are elaborate and organized in a neat, logical manner.
Activity	Students did not complete the activity for their natural disaster.	Students partially completed the activity for their natural disaster.	Students completed the activity for their natural disaster.	Students completed the activity using detailed data in a detailed thought provoking manner.
Natural Disaster Brochure	Student did not complete his/her brochure about a natural disaster.	Student completed some of the aspects of his/her brochure about a natural disaster.	Student completed most of the aspects of his/her brochure about a natural disaster.	Student completed all parts of his/her brochure about a natural disaster.

Now that you have made brochures about natural disasters, you can make copies and send them home to parents and members of the community. If you know someone who lives in an area that has a particular natural disaster, then you can mail your brochure to them too. You can also use the information that you learned and complete a transactive writing for your portfolio. Don't you feel good about yourself!! You should! Because you may have helped save someone's life!!!!