Avalanches What causes an avalanche? When do avalanches happen? Where do avalanches happen? What are some avalanche safety tips? What do you do if you are caught in an avalanche? How fast does an avalanche move? What time of year is the worst for avalanches? What are four factors for an avalanche to occur? Good avalanche websites http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/naturaldisasters/avalanche-profile/ http://www.naturaldisasters.ednet.ns.ca/Projects/Avalanche/bja.htm http://www.ehow.com/about_6054135_avalanche-safety-kids.html Blizzards What is a blizzard? What is so dangerous about a blizzard? How hard does the wind blow during a blizzard? What are some dangers associated with blizzards? What are some of the most memorable blizzards in the USA? What are whiteout conditions? What should you do if you are in a car during a blizzard? What should you do if you are caught outside during a blizzard? What should you NOT do if you are caught outside during a blizzard? How can you be prepared for a blizzard? Good blizzard websites http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-blizzards http://www.ussartf.org/blizzards.htm Cyclones/Hurricanes What is a cyclone? What are other names for a cyclone? What are tropical cyclones? What is the center of a cyclone called? What are the rings of clouds around the cyclone called? What is different about cyclones in the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere? What are storm surges? Why are cyclones dangerous? Name some famous cyclones 1 How are cyclones named? Good cyclone websites http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/storm-surge/ http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/cy/Cyclone Droughts What is a drought? What causes drought? Can we predict when drought will occur? Where do droughts occur? What are some major droughts? How does a drought affect the food chain? What restrictions are enforced during a drought? How should people help themselves during a drought? How should people prepare for drought? Good drought websites http://library.thinkquest.org/10136/famine/famitq.htm http://drought.unl.edu/kids/whatis.htm Earthquakes What causes an earthquake? Where are earthquakes most common? How are earthquakes measured? Can scientists predict earthquakes? How do you prepare for an earthquake? What are plate tectonics? Where have some famous earthquakes taken place? What happens after an earthquake? What are foreshocks? What are aftershocks? Can animals predict earthquakes? Do earthquakes cause volcanoes to erupt? Good earthquake websites http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php http://www.fema.gov/kids/quake.htm http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-earthquake.htm 2 Famines What causes a famine? What happens as a result of a famine? Where does famine occur? What is MALNUTRITION? What was the Irish Potato Famine? What is another name for the Irish Potato Famine? When did the Irish Potato Famine strike? How many people died? Good famine websites http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/ir/Irish_potato_famine http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/article-390613/Famine http://library.thinkquest.org/10136/famine/famitq.htm Floods What causes floods? Where do floods occur? When do floods occur? Discuss some major floods? What is a flash flood? Do flash floods hurt people? What are some flood safety tips? Good flood websites http://drought.unl.edu/kids/whatis.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/10136/famine/famitq.htm http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-rain.htm Heat Waves What are some impacts of heat waves? What are the criteria for a heat wave? What are some heat-related problems? What is the body’s response to overexposure to high temperatures? What are some heat wave safety tips? What is a heat advisory? What is an excessive heat warning? What is the heat index? What are some signs and symptoms of too much exposure to heat? What are some heat wave tips? Where can you go during a heat wave? Who should you try to help during a heat wave? 3 Good heat wave websites http://www.theweatherchannelkids.com/weather-ed/weather-encyclopedia/heatwave/impact-of-heat-waves/ http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-safety-heat-wave.htm http://www.co.pasquotank.nc.us/departments/911/webpage/heatwaves.htm Tornadoes What is a tornado? How do tornadoes work? Where and when do tornadoes occur? What are tornado ratings? What is it like in the eye of a tornado? Is there really a “calm before a storm”? What are some tornado safety tips? Discuss some of the most destructive tornados? Good tornado websites http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/tornado.htm http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/tornado3.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/10136/famine/famitq.htm Tsunamis What is a tsunami? What causes a tsunami? What is the size of a tsunami? Where do tsunamis occur? Discuss some major tsunamis How fast do tsunamis travel? What is a tsunami’s trough? What is a wave train? What should people do if a tsunami is approaching? Research some recent major tsunamis and discuss Good Tsunami websites http://library.thinkquest.org/10136/famine/famitq.htm http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/naturaldisasters/tsunami-profile/ http://www.fema.gov/kids/tsunami.htm Volcanoes Where does the word Volcano come from? What is a volcano? Why do volcanoes occur? 4 Where do volcanoes occur? Discuss some major volcanic eruptions in the world What is the difference between lava and magma? How many volcanoes are there in the world? What are the three layers the Earth is made of? What is the Ring of Fire? How are volcanoes formed? What gases do volcanoes emit? What kinds of rocks do volcanoes make? How many volcanoes have been identified in the world? What country has the most volcanoes? How many volcanoes are there in the United States? Are there volcanoes in the ocean? Discuss Which is the biggest volcano? Discuss How old is the oldest volcano? Discuss Good volcano websites http://library.thinkquest.org/10136/famine/famitq.htm http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/mountains/volcanoes.htm http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4886 Wildfires What is fire? What elements must be present for fire to burn? What is a wildland fire? What causes a wildfire? Where can wildfires occur? What are the Santa Ana winds? What is a fire tornado? How do firefighters put out the wildfires? Research the wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico Good wildfire websites http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season3/wildfires/facts.cfm http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-wildfire.htm 5