Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters Lesson
Lesson Plan
2 hoursGrades9, 10, 11, 12Science
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Written by Jeanne Cooper
About this lesson
Students reflect on and share their personal experiences with extreme weather events. Students explore the differences between natural disasters and natural hazards and begin research on a specific natural disaster.
Inquire: Students recall their experience with Hurricane Ida and/or Superstorm Sandy and view before and after pictures of Hurricane Ida.
Investigate: Students learn about ten types of natural disasters during a stations activity and differentiate between natural hazards and natural disasters.
Inspire: Students begin work on a poster about a natural disaster.
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Everything you need to teach it
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Suggestions
- This lesson takes 120 minutes. If you have 50-minute classes, you can break the lesson down as follows:
- Day 1: Complete the Inquire section and the Investigate section until the stations activity.
- Day 2: Finish the Investigate section.
- Day 3: Complete the Inspire section.
- One of the key learning goals of this lesson is to differentiate the important distinction between natural hazards and natural disasters. After slides 19-21, the term disaster should be used.
- This lesson can be taught in earth science, meteorology, environmental science, or biology classes as well as civics and sociology.
- This lesson highlights SEL connections for students.
- Students will connect their personal experience with natural disasters to specific examples from New Jersey.
- Students practice collaboration and discussion skills.
- Students have a voice in demonstrating their learning.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 1 of 3 in our 9-12 grade Extreme Weather Unit Plan.
- Students should have a basic understanding of common occurrences on Earth (e.g., volcanoes, earthquakes) and the theory of plate tectonics.
- Students will need to understand basic concepts around infectious diseases.
- Students should have a basic understanding of climate change.
- Computer access will be necessary for each group.
- Very large numbers are frequently used when talking about the Earth because it is 4.54 billion years old. Students could practice calculating and understanding big numbers in math.
Differentiation
- The stations activity is meant to introduce students to each natural disaster. They will develop a more detailed understanding in Lessons 2 and 3 of this unit. If you are not planning to use Lessons 2 and 3, you could expand on some of the discussion and information in this lesson.
- The stations activity can be accomplished in several ways:
- Set up a computer at each station with the station slide on the screen. Have students write on their student sheet that you have printed or on a digital version using their computers.
- Print out each station slide and have the students complete their student sheet either digitally or on paper.
- If you prefer to have students stay put at their desks, the entire slideshow can be made accessible, and students can go through each slide from their seats.
- The stations activity could also be run as a jigsaw.
- Here are the additional resources students can use for their research:
- Volcanoes: Volcanoes 101 video; About Volcanoes
- Earthquakes/Tsunamis: Earthquakes 101 video; Tsunamis 101
- Hurricanes: Hurricanes 101 video; How Hurricanes Work
- Tornadoes: Tornadoes 101 video; Tornado Basics
- Floods: Floods 101 video; Flood Basics
- Drought: Droughts 101 video; Drought Basics; Lake Mead Water Level Update (Saturday, February 17, 2024); International | Drought.gov
- Extreme Temperatures: Heat Hub NJ
- Landslides/Avalanches: Landslides 101; Geo Podcast; Landslide Basics; 15 Most Dangerous Avalanche Zones
- Fire: Wildfires 101 video; How Wildfires Start & How to Prevent Them
- Disease: Health Risks; Climate Change & Our Health
- Earth science topics, including natural disasters: Geo Podcast
From the scientist review
This lesson lets students investigate the distinctions between natural hazards and disasters, as well as how, why, and where they happen. It also emphasizes how these events are linked to climate change and offers strategies for reducing their effects and potential risks. The lesson's materials were all examined, and it has successfully completed our science review process.
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About the teacher writer
Jeanne Cooper
Jeanne Cooper holds a Doctorate in Geology from Miami University and a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. She has 25 years of teaching experience in mathematics and science for grades 6–12 and has been teaching since 1995. Jeanne holds professional educator licenses in grades 6–9 Mathematics and grades 9–12 Science in North Carolina, as well as grades 9–12 Earth Science in New Jersey.
