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:
Content
- What are characteristics of the natural disaster?
- What warning does it give?
- What was the most memorable historical incident involving the natural disaster studied? When did it occur?
- Where else has the natural disaster occurred?
- Explain what can be done to prepare for the studied natural disaster.
- Explain the steps to take if a disaster occurs.
Presentation Options
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?
Posted by Mrs. Ibrahim | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on January 8, 2011
Thinking Maps: We’ve learned all 8 maps to help us organize our thinking. We also learned to add the frame of reference around each map.
ePals: Each grade level chose a project by National Geographic to learn about.
- 6th grade has emailed their ePals in Illinois regarding their Water projects.
- 5th grade has been corresponding with their ePals in North Carolina about Natural Disasters.
- 4th grade is still looking for a school to exchange emails with regarding Global Warming.
Blogging: We know how to comment and create blog posts.
Wiki: We used a wiki to collaboratively build knowledge about our topics.
We’ve learned so much in just 3 1/2 months! Looking forward to the next few months!
Comparing and Contrasting 2 Natural Disasters: 
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 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).
Hypothesis
Last week you learned about the top 3 Natural Disasters in San Diego. Today we are going to hypothesize about what natural disasters you think are more likely to happen in North Carolina where our ePals live?
View Larger Map
In the email
- Introduce yourself. Tell them your age and gender; family size and members; and favorite things to do.
- Share your research on natural disasters so far. DO NOT TELL THEM THE TOP 3 DISASTERS IN OUR AREA!! They will be guessing about that later.
- Tell them your hypothesis for their top 3 disasters and why you think that.
a>Today we had a guest speaker from the American Red Cross. He brought us a lot of information about Natural Disasters. What are the top 3 Natural Disasters in San Diego? What else did you learn today? 
Click to view powerpoint: Be_Red_Cross_Ready_–_SAN_DIEGO_(2)[1]
Today we are going to look at which disasters are more likely to happen in Southern California (San Diego). Examine our location on a map.
View Larger MapNotice our proximity to rivers, oceans which can influence natural disasters (flooding, hurricanes, tsunamis).
What natural disasters do you think are more likely to happen in North Carolina where our ePals live? Make a hypothesis.
View Larger Map
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):
