Welcome!
You have been selected by the "Organization for the Occurrence of Natural Disasters"
to be a researcher. Your job is to investigate the world's natural disasters. The task you
have been given is to describe the event (hurricane, tornado, earthquakes, tsunamis,
volcanoes, etc.), the causes of such events, important historical occurrences, and what,
if anything, can be done to lessen the impact when these events occur.
Task:
Your job is to find the information using the Internet to research the eighteen
topics below. As you research, record your informations on the Natural Disaster
Information Log sheet (click for handout). Once this is done, the information gathered
in your "log" will be used to create a multimedia presentation describing your
findings.
Information to find:
1. define your natural disaster.
2. what are the causes of it.
3. how it is formed.
4. where does it come from.
5. what takes place during the disaster.
6. what scientific process causes this to occur.
7. what is the scientific background behind the disaster.
8. how many different types/magnitudes are there.
9. what are the differences in these types/magnitudes.
10. what are some of the major natural disasters of this kind that have
occurred in your lifetime.
11. what was the worst disaster of this kind in history.
12. what are some other notable disasters through out history.
13. what was effects/impact of the disaster on humans .
14. what was the economical impact.
15. what were the effects/impact on the environment.
16. what tools and methods are used to predict this natural disaster.
17. are signals used to warn people of a disaster that is about to occur.
18. is there evidence of animals sensing this natural disaster before it occurs.
Explain.
back to top
Process:
Step 1:
The first step in the process of completing the task consists of completing research by
visiting the web sites located in the "Resources" area of this webquest.
Step 2:
Complete the questions on the handout to guide your research. Be prepared to hand in.
Step 3:
Complete a multimedia presentation (Power Point) on the information you have
found. Be prepared to present this information to the "Organization for the Occurrence
of Natural Disasters" (your classmates). For the requirements for each slide,
see Evaluation.
Or Create a 3D model to demonstrate your natural disaster. Must include how to warn
citizens to mitigate the affects of the natural disasters. Example: You could build a
house out of recycled items and utilize a fan to demonstrate a tornado. Then you could
build another home and demonstrate how to keep citizens safe maybe an underground
shelter and an alarm system.
Step 4:
Present your findings to "The Organization" (classmates) on
back to top
Resources:
The following is a list of resources that will aid you in your research.
General Resources
Natural Disasters by Death Rate
Top 100 Disasters of the 20th Century
http://library.thinkquest.org/16132/frames.html
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/
http://www.fema.gov/kids/dizarea.htm
Volcanoes
http://www.britannica.com/
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weathervolcano.htm
http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/tut/tut23_ex/
Hurricanes
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/hurricane.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/hurricanes/index.shtml
http://skydiary.com/kids/hurricanes.html
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-hurricane.htm
Tornadoes
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
http://www.tornadoproject.com/safety/safety.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/natural_disasters/tornado
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/tornadoes/index.shtml
http://www.chaseday.com/tornadoes.htm
Tsunami
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/tsunamis/index.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/natural_disasters/tsunami
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2009/09/29/f-tsunami-forces-ofnature.html
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/tsunami.html
Landslides
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/landslides/index.shtml
http://www.ussartf.org/landslides.htm
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g115/projects03/emgoltz/causes.htm
Earthquake
http://www.tinynet.com/faults.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/earthquakes/index.shtml
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-earthquake.htm
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/
Floods
http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/flooding/index.shtml
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-rain.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/infocus/floods/science.html
back to top
Evaluation:
The following grading rubric is how this project will be scored.
Slide/Question
Slide
Points
1
Define "Natural Disaster"
5
2
How does your disaster come to
be?
5
3
The actions of your disaster
5
4
5
6
7
How do scientists think your
disaster begins?
How is the event measured?
Name the worst disaster since
you were born.
Worst disaster of all time?
Name others.
5
5
5
5
Points
Earned
8
Human and Environmental
impact?
(to repair damage - $$)
5
9
Effect on environment?
5
10
11
12
First and Last
Name
What is used to predict your
natural disaster?
Any signals or warnings before
your disaster?
Evidence that animals can sense
your disaster coming?
Title Slide/Works Cited
Proficient in Creating a
Design/Animation/
PowerPoint
Transition
(6 lines or 36 words;
no paragraphs)
Images Appropriate for the
Pictures
Content
Interesting to
Creativity - Holds interest of
Reader
your Audience
Total Possible Points
5
5
5
5
10
10
10
100
back to top
Conclusion:
By completing this webquest, you should now have an understanding of how natural
disasters impact your life. The geographical location of where you live can play an
important role on the disasters you might encounter. Remember to listen to the
warning signs to minimize the disaster's impact on your life.
back to top