Understanding natural disasters

Year level: Upper primary / Lower secondary Learning Outcome: Students identify the causes and the consequences of natural disasters Brainstorm a list of natural disasters. Try classifying the disasters in different ways (e.g. cause; speed; impact; recovery time) Select one type of disaster and research: What causes this type of disaster? Where does this kind of disaster occur? How much warning is there? How could people prepare for this type of disaster? What sort of damage does it do to people and the environment? List the ways different people (eg school child, subsistence farmer, day labourer, transport worker, large business operator) could be affected? Who would be most affected? What support might affected people need in order to rebuild their lives? Why might people live in an area affected by this type of disaster? Develop a plan outlining what you might do if you lived in an area affected by such a hazard. Assessment task Present your information in an interesting format (eg photo report, interview, dramatisation) to the class.