CATASTROPHIC EVENTS RESEARCH PROJECT
7 th GRADE SCIENCE
Mrs. Palmer
DATE ASSIGNED ____________________________
DUE Tuesday, November 19, 2013
THE ASSIGNMENT
Students will be working on a research project while studying Catastrophic
Events. They will choose a type of catastrophic event, gather background information, research a specific incident of this type of catastrophe and learn about a technology used to forecast, predict or lessen the risks from this type of catastrophe.
The project will be submitted on one date, but has two components. Students must submit a one-two page, typed document that addresses the questions listed below in Part I & II. This document must be 12 pt font, double
space with one inch margins. A Works Cited/Research Source Sheet must be included showing where students discovered their information.
Information should come from a variety of sources and not be limited to the internet. Students must also select a format through which they may share creatively their learnings about their research topic.
Students may choose their presentation format from the following options:
Magazine Article
Play
Editorial
Fairy Tale
Brochure
Myth
Short Story
Poem
Song/Rap Diary
Newspaper Manual
Interview/Video Reporting
Journal
Children’s Book
Biography
Painting/Sculpture
The research topic must be a specific event- i.e., Hurricane Katrina, the San
Francisco Earthquake of 1906, the Tornado in Joplin, Missouri, etc. No
Power Point presentations.
Students will share their projects with the class on Tuesday, November 19.
This will not be done through formal presentations, but through a Gallery
Walk, in which students will display their work and observe all projects as if walking through a museum/gallery.

Flood, Tornado, Landslide, Volcano, Earthquake, Tsunami, Wildfire, Hurricane
PART 1:
Select a type of catastrophic event from the list that you are interested in learning more about. Conduct research and answer the following questions about this type of catastrophic event.
1.
What catastrophic event did you choose and why?
2.
Why does it occur?
3.
How often does it occur? (seasonally, decade, century, irregular)
4.
How large an area is usually affected by this type of event?
(neighborhoods, counties, statewide, coastal zone)
5.
How long do people know before it occurs? (days, hours, minutes, seconds)
PART 2:
Answer the following questions about the event you selected:
1.
What type of catastrophe was it?
2.
When and where did the catastrophic event occur?
3.
What happened during the event to affect human lives?
4.
What physical damage and environmental effects resulted from the event?
5.
Were people prepared for the event, able to evacuate or taken by surprise?
6.
Where is this event likely to occur again WHY?
PART 3:
Research a current technology that is being used to predict the catastrophic event or reduce the damage caused by this type of catastrophic event.
Include the following information in your report.
1.
What the technology is called?
2.
Images or illustrations of the technology: (What does the device look like and/or what does the data the device generates look like?)
3.
What does it do (predict, prevent, reduce damage, warn people, help evacuate)?
4.
Who developed it or who is using it?
5.
How does it work? What does it do?

CATASTROPHIC EVENTS RESEARCH PROJECT
SCORING RUBRIC
Rubric 1 Quality of Content Weight: 50%
The presentation displays exemplary coverage of the catastrophic event and related information as required by the research questions.
The presentation displays above average coverage of the catastrophic event and related information as required by the research questions.
The presentation displays satisfactory coverage of the catastrophic event and information required by the research questions.
The presentation displays below average coverage of the catastrophic event and related information as required by the research questions.
The presentation displays limited coverage of the catastrophic event and related information as required by the research questions.
Achieved standard with honors
5
Achieved standard
4
Nearly achieved standard
3
Achievement below the standard
2
1
Rubric 2 Presentation Design and Appearance Weight: 40%
The presentation clearly, effectively, and creatively displays the main ideas. Presentation is attractive and well organized.
The presentation clearly and effectively displays the main ideas.
Presentation is relatively attractive and organized.
The presentation communicates some of the main ideas.
Presentation is lacking in organization and structure.
Appearance of presentation is satisfactory.
The presentation ineffectively communicates the main ideas and lack details and structure. There appears to have been little effort to make the presentation attractive and organized.
Little or no effort appears to have been made to present the information.
Achieved standard with honors
5
Achieved standard
4
Nearly achieved the standard
3
Achievement below the standard
2
1
Rubric 3 Documentation of Research Sources
10%
More than three sources are used to research the topic. There are a wide variety of types of resources. The Research Source
Sheet is completed with accuracy and neatly.
Two or three sources are used to research the topic. The
Research Source Sheet is complete, accurate and neat.
Weight:
Achieved standard with honors
5
Achieved standard
4

Only one source is used to research the topic. The Research
Source Sheet is partially complete with some mistakes.
The Research Source Sheet is incomplete.
There is no Research Source Sheet and no sources documented.
Nearly achieved standard
3
Below standard
2
0
Total Score
____________________
Name ___________________________________________ Period
______________