Tsunami Education Kit

On 26 December 2004 an underwater earthquake just off the coast of Sumatra displaced a massive body of water causing an enormous tsunami to race across the Indian Ocean. The tsunami itself touched and unleashed immense devastation in twelve countries and affected many more. The Australian people and the Australian Government have responded with unprecedented generosity and compassion to the needs of those affected. The Australian people have shown both a desire to give and a desire to understand the causes and effects of this disaster. In order to support the desire to understand the causal factors and the long term consequences of the disaster, World Vision, the Australian Red Cross and AusAID have put together this schools kit. The kit goes beyond the immediate disaster and examines how the disaster fits with bigger picture issues of poverty, development and aid. The kit provides a background for teachers and students on these issues through information and key questions, as well as providing activity suggestions for all age groups. The kit is divided into primary and secondary worksheets, denoted by a P or an S. However teachers may find it useful to look through the whole kit to give a thorough grounding in all of the issues and to find further activity suggestions.

Remnants of a town, Aceh west coast, Indonesia Photographer: Robin Davies, AusAID The railway line to Galle, Sri Lanka after Tsunami Photographer: Dr Graeme Peel