Natural Disasters

Natural occurrences and their effects

What do I want them to know?

Why we have crazy weather sometimes? The Science behind it

How to measure the weather
How to read weather maps and information What information can
we get where?
Who is weather information important to? Who needs what
information from the reports
That weather patterns are often consistent over an annual period in
different parts of the world and this relates to the climate of that
area.

Outcomes

ES S3.6
Recognises that the Earth is the source of most materials and
resources, and describes phenomena and processes, both natural
and human, that form and change the Earth over time.

researches information on the causes and effects of catastrophic events

such as earthquakes and cyclones
uses a thermometer, rain gauge, wind gauge to record local weather and
compare this with data from another area

INV S3.7
Conducts their own investigations and makes judgments based on
the results of observing, questioning, planning, predicting,
testing, collecting, recording and analysing data, and drawing
conclusions.

DM S3.8
Develops and resolves a design task by planning, implementing,
managing and evaluating design processes.

UT S3.9
Evaluates, selects and uses a range of equipment, computer-
based technology, materials and other resources to meet the
requirements and constraints of investigating and designing
tasks.
 Potential Teaching & Learning Activities

WHAT IS A NATURAL DISASTER?

Brainstorm natural disasters categorise them using BLM 1 from

Natural Disasters book (Blakes Topic Bank).

Invite a guest speaker in to introduce topic.

Discussion What makes a natural phenomenon become a disaster?

E.g. Its effect on the environment and people. Is an earthquake in an
unpopulated area or cyclone in the middle of the ocean a disaster?
What disasters have or could occur in Australia? The world?

HOW DOES A NATURAL DISASTER OCCUR?

Watch Natural Disasters Video. Complete questions.

As a class, investigate and discuss the types of natural disasters and

how they occur. (Earthquakes, Cyclones, Bushfires, Tsunami,
Volcanoes, Avalanches & Landslides, )

o Bushfire Science of a bushfire (oxygen, fuel, heat) Natural

Disasters Video. Experiment on removing air from a candle.

o Earthquake

o Cyclones

o Tsunami

o Volcanoes -

Students write an explanation on one type of natural disaster.

EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS

Individual students select one specific well-known natural disaster

that has occurred and complete a research project on the disaster
and its effects on the people and the environment. Students present
their findings to the class. (E.g. Pompeii, Mt St Helens, San
Francisco Earthquake, Sydney Bushfires, PNG Tsunami, Cyclone
Tracey, Japanese Tsunami, )

Write a response after watching a News Bulletin about the effects of

a natural disaster on people.
 View YouTube videos, news presentations. Write a recount from the
perspective of someone affected by a natural disaster.

Polarised Debate: Should we send aid to disaster victims in other

countries?
o What is our countrys responsibility?
o What is the individuals responsibility?
o How is the money raised?

View posters to encourage people to donate to communities

suffering from a natural disaster. Discuss techniques used by the
writer to persuade people to donate. As a group, design a poster for
a real or fictitious community suffering from a natural disaster, to
encourage people to donate.

Invite a member of the local SES in to talk about their work recently
with the floods.