CAREER PREPAREDNESS
UNIT TOPIC: RISK MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE
Title of Lesson:
What is a Natural Disaster and Why Plan for It?
LESSON PLAN #: 1/4
Total Time on Task: 45 minutes
Content Standard:
23. Develop a plan for financial security in the event of disaster, including secure storage of financial records and personal
documents, available cash reserve, household inventory list, and medical records retention.
Lab Access: Required for Students ☐
Optional for Students
☐
Not Needed for Students ☒
Overview/Annotation:
In this lesson, students will be recognize natural disasters and the effects they have on daily living. They will begin to
understand the importance of having a plan for recovery in face of a disaster.
Essential Question(s):
What is a natural disaster?
How does one manage risks?
What is an emergency fund?
Why is financial preparedness necessary when disaster strikes?
Learning Objective(s): The students will:
1. Define natural disaster.
2. Identify the differences between needs and wants.
3. Identify and develop short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals.
4. Recognize the need for financial preparedness in the face of a disaster.
Conceptual Outline:
I. Need for Disaster Plan
A. Natural disaster
B. Wants and needs
C. Goals
D. Financial preparedness
Materials, Equipment, and Technology Resources:
Materials:
1. DVD #1: Katrina's Classroom: Financial Lessons from a Hurricane (order two weeks in advance)
2. Teacher Information #1: Katrina’s Classroom—Lesson 1: Katrina Strikes
3. Assignment #1: Pre-test Your Knowledge | Planning for Financial Security in Face of Disaster
4. Key #1 for Assignment #1: Pre-test Your Knowledge | Planning for Financial Security in Face of Disaster
5. PowerPoint #1: Test Your Knowledge | Katrina Strikes
6. PowerPoint #2: Katrina Strikes (narrated version
http://www.frbatlanta.org/edresources/classroomeconomist/13Katrina_Lesson1/index.htm)
7. Assignment #2: Planning for Financial Security in Face of Disaster
8. Key #2 for Assignment #2: Planning for Financial Security in Face of Disaster
Equipment:
1. Computer with LCD projector or DVD player and television
Technology Resources:
1. Internet access
2. Video #1: Katrina Intro (MP4 4:00) (http://www.frbatlanta.org/forms/katrina.cfm)
a. Video Summary: “Katrina Strikes is an introduction that sets the scene for the approach of Hurricane Katrina
and introduces each of the three major characters.”
3. http://www.frbatlanta.org/edresources/classroomeconomist/
4. Narrated PowerPoint #1: Katrina Strikes
(http://www.frbatlanta.org/edresources/classroomeconomist/13Katrina_Lesson1/index.htm)
Procedures/Activities:
1. Teacher Preparation Two Weeks in Advance: Order a copy of the updated Katrina's Classroom: Financial Lessons
from a Hurricane DVD from Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta at http://www.frbatlanta.org/forms/katrina_order.cfm.
Allow two weeks for delivery.
 Video clips are provided with this resource, but it is wise to verify these are the latest versions.
 Video #1 is imbedded in PowerPoint #2.
 Video clips can be downloaded and/or viewed from website http://www.frbatlanta.org/forms/katrina.cfm.
2. Teacher Preparation: Review Teacher Information #1 to be able to lead class discussions.
3. Class Discussion: Ask the class what they know about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Students share stories about
disasters their family may have suffered. Explain that many families lost everything they owned. Some were evacuated
for weeks and even months.
4. Pre-test: Distribute copies of Assignment #1. Give students a few minutes to circle answers to the 10 questions. Show
PowerPoint #1 to use in scoring and reinforcing knowledge about preparing for natural disasters.
5. Class Discussion: On the chalkboard, write the names of three teenagers the students are about to meet through videos
used in these lessons: Nick, Jacquelyn, and Jamie. Tell students to look for the needs, wants, and goals of each one.
Explain that “many families along the Gulf Coast lost their homes and everything they owned. Some families evacuated
and stayed in other towns for weeks and even months. Other remained, living in crowded shelters, trailers, or their
homes. Living conditions were extremely difficult. Families who were financially prepared were able to get their lives
back on track more quickly after the storm.” Show PowerPoint #2 with Video #1 imbedded on last slide OR show
narrated version available at http://www.frbatlanta.org/edresources/classroomeconomist/13Katrina_Lesson1/index.htm.
Video #1 Discussion Questions:



What are your impressions of what the people in these stories went through?
If you were in a similar situation, what would you take with you?
What would be some good ways to be financially prepared? (A bank account; an emergency fund; financial
records at hand; managing important documents.)
6. Class Activity: Distribute copies of Assignment #2 if you wish to give the post-test as a summative assessment for
Lesson 1. Alternative is to re-use PowerPoint #1 to reinforce key points.
Assessment:
1. Assignment #1 (Pre-test)
2. Assignment #2
3. Class participation