Earth Systems Standard 3, Objective 3 Title: Natural Disaster Essays Brief Activity Description: Students will research an historic natural disaster. Research will include information on the disasters’ impacts to weather, climate, waterways and surrounding ecosystems. The research will be compiled into a concise essay. Objective: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of how an alteration to one of the earth’s spheres influences the surrounding geosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere. Materials: Computer Lab, textbooks Time Needed: 120 minutes in class, 1-2 weeks outside of class. Safety/Security Issues: Be sure students treat computers with respect and sign out any computers that are being used. At the end of the class period be sure all computers are accounted for. Teacher Procedures: 1. Make copies of the student sheet and overheads. 2. Reserve 2 days of computer lab time or laptop checkout. 3. Distribute and review student sheet with students. 4. Display list of topic ideas with students. 5. Allow research time. Be sure to monitor student progress and use of class time. You should also be aware of each students topic to make sure it is appropriate for the age level. Sample Scoring Guide: See Student Sheet. Overhead Essay Ideas This is a starter list. You may choose any of these or find another idea on your own. Be sure to clear the idea with your teacher first. Washington: Mt Saint Helens (1980) California: Lassen Peak Volcano Hawaii: Kilauea Volcano (Current) Yucatan Peninsula Mexico: Meteorite Impact (251 Million Years Ago) Italy: Mt Vesuvius Volcano Mexico: Mt Colima Volcano Colombia: Nevada del Ruiz Volcano (1985) Indonesia: Tambora Volcano (1815) Gansu, China: Earthquake (1920) Kwanto, Japan: Earthquake (1923) Messina, Italy: Earthquake (1908) Peru: Earthquake (1970) Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador: Hurricane Mitch (1998) Utah: Thistle Debris Slide (1983) Alaska: Prince William Sound Earthquake (1964) Wakayama Japan: Typhoon (1953) Friuli-venezia-Griulia, Italy: Vaiont Reservoir Rockslide (1963) Gansu, China: Saleshan Landslide (1983) Student Sheet Name:_____________________________________________________Period_________ Title: An Historic Disaster Essay Date Due: __________________________ Purpose: To research a natural disaster and report on the impacts to weather, climate, waterways, matter cycles and surrounding ecosystems. The project will be much easier if you choose a well-researched event. Examples may include, but are not limited to, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, catastrophic fires or floods, meteorite impacts etc. Please clear your topic with your teacher before you begin. Procedure: 1. Choose a natural disaster to research and write your essay about. 2. Read the outline which contains a list of questions you need to address in the report. 3. Read the materials you find on the Internet or other research sources. 4. Write your paper using the questions as a guide. Do not write your essay in question/answer format and do not use anyone else’s words except your own! Use paragraphs and supporting details to describe the information you find. 5. Type the report with double-spaces. Use spell check and correct grammar. It should not be longer than 2 pages. 6. Include a bibliography citing the sources you used in your research. Essay Outline: I. Introductory Paragraph: Where was natural disaster? Are any effects from this disaster still being felt? Explain. II-VI. Body Paragraphs: II. III. IV. V. VI. What affect did this disaster have on the biosphere (the surrounding ecosystems) What affect did this disaster have on the atmosphere (the weather and climate) What affect did the disaster have on the geosphere (the land, topography etc) What affect did the disaster have on the hydrosphere (waterways, ponds etc)? What affect did the disaster have on matter cycles including nitrogen and carbon? (Think about possible reservoir disruption, fires etc) VII. Closing Paragraph: Predict in a closing paragraph what would happen to your city or town if this disaster had erupted 50 miles away. Summarize essay. Scoring Guide: Requirement Student uses time for research productively Student types, checks spelling, grammar and double-spaces Paragraph I: Detailed, accurate and interesting Paragraph II: Detailed, accurate and interesting Paragraph III: Detailed, accurate and interesting Paragraph IV: Detailed, accurate and interesting Paragraph V: Detailed, accurate and interesting Paragraph VI: Detailed, accurate and interesting Paragraph VII: Detailed, accurate and interesting, adequate summary Points Points Possible Received 15 Total 15 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 100 Bibliography Format: Newspaper Last name, First name. “Title of the article.” Name of the Newspaper. Date: page numbers. Magazine Last name, First name. “Title of the article.” Name of the Magazine. Date: page numbers. Internet Author or Organization, Title of Website, Address, Date accessed. Book Last name, First name. Title. City of Publisher: Publisher. Year. Page numbers.
