J
ust yesterday we were learning about disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and floods. Now a devestating 8.9 earthquake happened this morning off the coast of Japan.
What can we do? Check out CNN’s article on Japan Relief: How You can Help. Maybe we, as GATErs, could do something together to help these people. What do you think?
Today you will be taking notes in your Thinking Maps about your Natural Disaster. Remember to write down the resources you used to help you answer the question. If you used a website, you will need to write down the following (for example):
“Types of Volcanoes.” Enchanted Learning. 8 June 2011 http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/volcano/types/index.shtml
Need resources? Check out our wiki page that I started on resources or just start searching!
We have been studying Natural Disasters for a few months now and it’s time for you to show what you know! You will become experts on one natural disaster and work in small groups to share the information you have found. Within each small group, you will collaborate to prepare a natural disaster preparedness presentation containing the following information:
Presentations should creatively show what you’ve learned. For example,
Today, I need to know your plans. Fill out the form below with your group.
Today you will research the various ways that people can prepare for natural disasters and what they should do when one has occurred. Study what warnings, if any, precede the disaster and what residents can do to prepare. 
FEMA (The Federal Emergency Management Agency) has a great website for kids.
How has your family perpared for disasters at home?
http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2010/dec/21/283574/
Storm brings flooding, accidents throughout county – SignOnSanDiego.com.
STAY SAFE gateRS!!
Today you will choose one disaster from the list below to investigate. Create a Thinking Map to show the causes and effects. Afterwards, you will find a partner who did a different disaster to compare and contrast them. Don’t forget the Frame of Reference (National Geographic).
Hurricanes http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0409/quickflicks/
Volcanoes http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0405/quickflicks/
Tornadoes http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0401/quickflicks/
Tsunamis http://www.powertolearn.com/BrainPOP/tsunami/index.shtml
Today we did some experiments with air to help us understand natural disasters. We learned 3 things:
1. Air takes up space.
2. Air has weight (although our experiment was inconclusive)
3. Air applies pressure .
Video of air pressure experiment: IMG_0704
The flow map is used to put things in order. To start, we sequenced what we would do on our best day. Then, we applied the Thinking Map to curriculum. The students put natural disasters in order from the most destructive to the least (the top 3). Then, we found out which countries have had the worst disasters and put them in order. 
Today we are going to explore the history of Natural Disasters in the world. I wonder which countries had the most human casualties from disasters? I wonder which Natural disasters happened more often? I wonder…?
Search for the history of natural disasters and then post a comment on the blog. You will be sharing this information with your ePals in your next email (or on the wiki if you are not doing ePals).
