Antonietta Leone
Nicole Ricchiazzi
Unit Topic: Natural Disasters
Grade Level: 4th grade
Lesson Topic: Nine Natural Disasters (Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Tornadoes,
Hurricanes, Wildfires, Winter Storms, Tsunamis, Thunderstorms and Floods)
Lesson Objectives: The student will be able to identify the nine natural disasters and
how they are formed.
Instructional Technique: Group work and discussion
Instructional Materials:
 Instructional sheet
 Natural Disaster Booklet (one page example given)
 Book: Night of the Twister by I. Ruckman
 Quiz
 Evaluation sheet
Theoretical Perspective: Students should learn important facts to be able to understand
the different natural disasters. Also students should be able to research important
information on natural disasters and present them to the class.
ISTE Standards:
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Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and
promote creativity.
Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and
software.
Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong
learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity
Curriculum Framework:
Science and Technology/Engineer
Weather
5. Explain how air temperature, moisture, wind speed and direction, and precipitation
make up the weather in a particular place and time.
6. Distinguish among the various forms of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, and hail),
making connections to the weather in a particular place and time.
Earth’s History
12. Give examples of how the surface of the earth changes due to slow processes such
as erosion and weathering, and rapid processes such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and
earthquakes.
English Language Arts
Standard 8: Understanding a Text
Students will identify basic facts and main ideas in a text and use them as the basis for
interpretation.
Procedure:
Introductory Activity: First I would write down on the board the natural disasters:
Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Wildfires, Winter Storms, Tsunamis,
Thunderstorms and Floods. Then I would ask the students if they could give me three
facts for each of the natural disasters, this will let me see what they already know and
which one they have trouble with. After discussing each natural disaster briefly I will
read Night of the Twister by I. Ruckman and we will discuss the story.
Step-by-step: Then I will break the class up into nine groups of three students and each
group will receive an instructional sheet with one natural disaster they will focus their
presentation on. Each group must have five facts, two safety tips and at least one visual
for the presentation. The students will get three days of research in the library and two
days of research on-line, on the sixth day each group will have a minimum of five
minutes to present the information to the class. The students listening must write down
the information they learn in their natural disaster booklet.
Adaptations for different learners: The students will be broken-up in groups so that
their strengths and weaknesses compliment each other. The time in the library will also
allow you to walk around the room and spend a few minutes with each group to help
them out. Also the students who have difficulty writing or keeping up with notes will get
a booklet at the end of the presentations with the right notes.
Closure: Students will use the booklet as a study guide for a quiz on what they have
learned about the nine natural disasters: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Tornadoes, Hurricanes,
Wildfires, Winter Storms, Tsunamis, Thunderstorms and Floods.
Homework: The homework will be optional for the students; if they want to they can
bring in a book or look up information on-line at home to bring in the next day for their
group.
Evaluation: Students will be graded on their presentation and the quiz at the end of
the lesson. The presentation will be graded by using an evaluation sheet for each student
in the group so that each student must talk when in front of the class. The booklet will not
be given a grade but will be check after each presentation so each student has down the
right information.
Concerns: The only two concerns I have is that each person in the group helps with the
research so one person is not doing all the work and also that there is enough computers
in the school for each group to use the on-line researches.
Instructional Sheet
Natural Disaster
Research: Each group must read at least two different books
and visit at least one web site.
Visuals: This is up to you to decide as a group what your
visual must be, but don’t forget it will be graded so be neat, be
created and have fun. Some examples of visuals can be
posters, models, videos, overhead, charts, handouts, etc,.
What needs to be in the presentation: Each group must have a
visual, how their natural disaster is formed, at least five facts
and at least two safety tips. Presentation must be at least five
minutes long and each group member must talk.
Any questions or problems come see me right away!
Remember to have fun and be creative!!!
Important Dates
Library dates: Dec. 8th, Dec. 9th and Dec. 10th
Computer dates: Dec. 13th and Dec. 14th
Due date: Dec. 15th
Booklet page
Floods
Floods are caused by ___________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Fact 1 ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Fact 2 ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Fact 3 ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Fact 4 ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Fact 5 ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Safety Tip 1 ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Safety Tip 2 ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Draw a picture of a flood
Name ________________
Date ___________
Quiz on natural disasters
1. Give one fact about winter storms
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
2. Give one fact about tsunamis
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
3. Give one fact about hurricanes
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
4. Give one fact about volcanoes
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
5. Give one fact about wildfires
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
6. Give one safety tip on thunderstorms
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
7. Give one safety tip on tornadoes
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
8. Give one safety tip on earthquakes
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
9. Give one safety tip on floods
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
10.
On the back: Draw a picture of a natural disaster
using crayons and color pencils only. Be Neat!
Evaluation sheet
Student name: _________________
Date: _________
Group Members: __________________, _________________
Natural Disaster: ___________________
Group Time: Started ________
Ended _________
Fact one ______________________________________
Fact two ___________________________________________
Fact three __________________________________________
Fact four ___________________________________________
Fact five ____________________________________________
Safety tip one ________________________________________
Safety tip two ________________________________________
Visual _______________________________________________
Neatness __________