NATURAL DISASTERS

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

5-6
Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 7
Activity Page ▶ page 8
Practice Page ▶ page 9
GRADE Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
page 10
page 11
 Classroom Procedure: Lesson Title: Natural Disasters

1. Introduce the lesson by asking students to list the storms Subject: Science
or emergencies they may have experienced. For example, Approximate Grade Level: 5 - 6
ask students how many have had the electricity go out
Objectives: Students will know the different
during or after a bad storm. What did they do during that types of natural disasters, distinguish between
time? Did they have batteries and other supplies to help them, and describe their effects. Next, students
them get through the storm? Explain to students they will learn how to prepare for natural disasters.
will be learning today about natural disasters and how to Finally, students will understand how climate
prepare for them. change affects natural disasters’ frequency,
duration, and severity.
2. Distribute the Natural Disasters Content Pages to
State Educational Standards*
students. Read and review with the students the material. NGSS.3-ESS3-1, NGSS.4-ESS3-2, &
Utilize videos from Learn Bright to supplement the NGSS.3-ESS2-1
materials.
Class Sessions (45 minutes): 2 - 3
3. Distribute the Activity Page. Allow students to complete
Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
research on the internet to fill in the information. This can Content pages (4), Activity page (1),
be completed as a whole or small group activity. Discuss Practice page (1), Homework page (1)
with students what they learned about natural disasters in
Student Supplies:
their area. Pencils, pens, highlighters,
4. Distribute the Practice Page. The Practice Page will access to the internet
require students to create an emergency bag in case of a Practice: Backpack or gym bag, items to
natural disaster. Teachers will want to involve parents in create an emergency bag
advance of the Practice as they will need to purchase the Prepare Ahead of Time:
specific supplies that go into the emergency bag. This is Copies of lessons
a great opportunity to involve your area’s local emergency
Options for Lesson: Invite or take a trip to the
response organizations. Some of the materials are
local Emergency Management Administration
provided for free by these agencies. offic s. They can provide information and
5. Distribute the Homework Page. Have students bring materials on disaster planning and natural
disasters in your area. Also, the Federal
copies of the plan to the class. Have students read the Government has several excellent websites
plan to the class. Ask students why they made the choices with natural disaster information. Finally, be sure
they made in writing their plans. This family activity should to check out the videos from Learn Bright on the
be part of the Practice Page activity. different types of natural disasters (tornadoes,
hurricanes, etc.) to learn what causes them
6. In closing, ask students what they learned about natural and the dangers.
disasters. For example, which natural disasters are
*Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
more prevalent and likely to happen in their area? What most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
additional information did they learn to help them prepare? your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.

Do they feel better prepared in case of a natural disaster

after completing this lesson? Why or why not?

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 Teacher Notes
Hardly a day goes by when there is not a natural disaster in the world. Unfortunately, most of these have
catastrophic impacts on the people living through them, sometimes for many weeks and months after
the event occurs. In this lesson, students will learn about the prevalent natural disasters in their area. In
addition, they will learn about the different kinds of disasters and be challenged to create a family natural
disaster plan in the event they are confronted by one. By the end of the lesson, students will know why it is
important to have a plan in place. The lesson includes the entire family!

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Natural Disasters
What do you think of when you hear the words natural disaster?
Maybe you have been in a hurricane, tornado, flood, or severe
snowstorm. Possibly you had to evacuate where you live because
of a wildfire. It s hard to imagine, at any time during the day,
somewhere a natural disaster is occurring. Yet, one in ten homes
in the U.S. are impacted by natural disasters. And while there are
different types of natural disasters, one thing is common with all of
them – the destruction of property with life-changing consequences.
So what are natural disasters? What are the most common
kinds of natural disasters? And if they are so common, why can’t
scientists prevent them? What do we need to know to prepare
for when one occurs? How is climate change affecting natural
disasters?

What are natural disasters?

Natural disasters are caused by nature. For example, too much

rain can cause flooding. High winds can blow down electrical lines
and uproot trees. Whenever an event in nature causes damage to
property or lives, we call that a natural disaster. And, not all are the
result of the weather. For example, pandemics like covid or the flu
are natural disasters.

What are the most common types of natural disasters?

According to the Federal Emergency Management

Administration (FEMA), floods are the most common
type of natural disaster in the United States. So it
might not surprise you to learn that nearly 90% of all
disasters in the U.S. involve flooding. The cause of
flooding might be tropical storms, hurricanes, extreme
rains, or the spring thaw of snow. While severe weather
conditions resulting in floods can’t be stopped, there
are several ways to make flooding less of a disaste . One example is not building in flood zones. That
probably sounds common sense, but how often have you seen pictures of homes built next to the ocean
or near rivers? In addition, the destruction of natural areas like marshes and plant life also contributes to
flooding. So, while we cannot prevent severe weathe , we can lower the risk of flooding by protecting the
plant life in an area. We can also increase reservoirs where water can drain and be stored. Finally, we can
stop building in flood-prone areas.

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Most Common Natural Disasters in the United States
Natural Disaster Description

• Agricultural Diseases or insects destroying crops.

Pandemics or diseases suddenly affect thousands of people, making
• Diseases
them very sick.
Intense heat and extreme lack of precipitation kill plants and reduce
• Drought
freshwater supplies.
It occurs when two large pieces of rock under the Earth’s surface
• Earthquakes
suddenly shift.
• Floods A flood is when water overflows and covers normally dry land

• Landslides A massive amount of rock, mud, and soil moves down a hill.
It occurs when dirt and rock are washed away, creating a deep hole or
• Sinkholes
depression in the ground.
Rare in the U.S., these are large ocean waves that form after
• Tsunamis
earthquakes and flood coastal land.
An uncontrolled and unplanned fire that burns out of control in a wooded
• Wildfire
or plains grassy area.
When volcanoes erupt, hot lava and ash overflow causing fires an
• Volcanoes
other damage.

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Most Common Natural Disasters in the United States

Weather and Climate Description

• Hail A form of precipitation is solid ice pellets and falls during a thunderstorm.
An enormous storm with high winds (up to 150 miles per hour) and
• Hurricanes
excessive rainfall causes floods and wind damage.
A storm with dangerous lightning, excessive rainfall, and fast-moving
• Thunderstorms
winds.
Violent spinning winds (up to 300 miles per hour), usually at the base of
• Tornadoes
a thunderstorm.
Blizzards, whiteouts, snow, sleet, freezing rain, and other extreme cold
• Winter Storms
storms.

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Natural Disasters
As you can see from the chart on the previous page, natural disasters come in many forms. Scientists
have no way of controlling nature. Many natural disasters come without warning, which is why they are so
dangerous and destructive.
For example, meteorologists, or people who study and predict the weather, know
when the weather conditions are right for thunderstorms. However, one result of violent
thunderstorms is a tornado. There is no accurate way to predict if, when, or where a
tornado will touch down. Thunderstorm lightning can cause wildfires and knock out power
even if no tornado exists. The winds can blow down trees and rip rooftops from houses. The hard rain
causes flooding. Flooding creates landslides and sinkholes. Thunderstorms can produce large hail stones
pounding the ground and anything in the area. So, you can see, even in storms we think of as not as
dangerous as a hurricane, there is still a lot of potential damage thunderstorms can cause. All natural
disasters are harmful and destructive. And while we can’t always predict, we can always prepare!

How do we prepare for a natural disaster?

The Boy Scouts have a saying, “Be prepared!” One way you can be
prepared is to know the potential natural disasters that happen in your area
most frequently. For example, if you live in an area where hurricanes occur,
that is far different from living in a place where temperatures can be below
freezing, and it snows.
Regardless of the potential disaster, you need to
have a plan. For example, if the electricity goes off, what do I need to
ensure that I can still see in the dark and remain warm if it is cold? Do I
have enough water and food to last for a few days if the electricity can’t
be restored? Who do I call to tell them we are all right, or where can we
be found if we have to evacuate?
Next, you need to prepare. This means you have supplies to weather
a disaster. Flashlights, batteries, matches, and bottled water are
necessities. How much you need is determined by how many people
are in your family and how long you think the disaster will last. For
example, people who suffer from hurricanes sometimes go ten or more
days without electricity and running water.
Finally, you need to practice. Think about it this way, if you are in school, you practice fire drills, so you
will know what to do if a fire happens. Likewise, your family should practice, so everyone knows what to
do, where to go, and how to contact other family members.

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Natural Disasters and Climate Change

For several decades, scientists have been monitoring the weather. Remember, the scientific definition fo
weather is “the state of the atmosphere, including temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity,
precipitation, and cloud cover.” So, how we think about weather is how cold or hot, wet or dry, sunny or
cloudy it is outside daily.
Climate is the “long-term pattern of weather in a particular area. Weather can change from hour-to-hour,
day-to-day, month-to-month, or even year-to-year.” Scientists have noted an alarming trend in studying
climate – the Earth is warming. Climate change is the long-term change in weather patterns and climate.
Over thousands of years, the climate has gone through many changes, from colder to warmer or the
opposite. However, in the last 200 years, the Earth has gotten much warmer much faster. But you may be
asking, what does this have to do with natural disasters? Great question.
Weather is caused by heat generated by the Sun and air movement. Therefore, the weather doesn’t stay
the same in the same place. For example, millions of years ago, what is now the Sahara Desert teemed
with plant life. Now it is a dry arid desert. Because the Earth is rapidly warming and heat is trapped in our
atmosphere by carbon dioxide gasses, the heat in the atmosphere has devastating effects on the surface.
Increased natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, violent thunderstorms, and winter blizzards
may result from climate change. Scientists believe there are more natural disasters today than a few short
centuries ago due to climate change. As a result, natural disasters will be more common, intense, and
devastating to life today and in the future. Therefore, you must be prepared in the future for more and
more intense natural disasters.

Remember, we can’t always predict when or where a natural

disaster will occur. But we can always be prepared when one
occurs!

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: Are you in a flood zone? Are you in danger from a natural disaster? Read the
paragraph and complete the table below.

You may not have given it much thought, but before preparing for a natural disaster, you
need to know what types of natural disasters are most common in your area. For example,
if you live along the coast of Florida, hurricane season begins in June and goes into the
second week of November. But if you live in Southern California, fires are more common.
The most dangerous time for fires is the end of spring until Octobe . There is an area in
the Midwest United States known as the Tornado Alley because of the extreme number of
tornadoes occurring from mid-March through June. As you learned in this lesson, floods
can occur anywhere and anytime. Floods are the most common type of natural disaster.
So, the question is, what is the most likely natural disaster you should prepare for? And do
you need to prepare for more than one natural disaster? In the column on the right, write
what you would do if you answered yes to the questions below.

Are you in a flood zone?

Are you in a fire zone?

Do you live in Tornado Alley or

somewhere tornadoes frequently
occur?

Do you live in an area where the

temperature frequently drops
below freezing during the winter?

Do you live in an area under

severe drought?

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 Practice Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: What do I need in case of a natural disaster?

In the Activity, you identified the potential natural disasters that may occur where you live. In
the Practice, we will use the information from the Activity to create an emergency bag. While
there are some items everyone should have (batteries, flashlights, etc.), other items will be
specific to the type of potential natural disaster area where you live. The U.S. Government
suggests everyone have a disaster kit with at least these items.

In a gym bag, container or backpack, place these items in case of a natural disaster. Contact the local
Emergency Management Administration for a list.

Item / How many (number of people) Check it off!

Water container or bottled water (1 gallon per person for several days)

Food (Non-perishable for several days, can goods or MREs)

Flashlights or camp-type lanterns

Camp time stove

Matches (In a waterproof bag)
First Aid Kit

Batteries

Roll of plastic sheeting, duct tape, an assortment of nails

Basic tools (Ax, knife, hammer, pliers, screwdrivers)

Manual can opener, cooking pans, plastic cutlery

Blankets, clothing, travelers’ checks, or cash

Copies of important documents

Soap, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, masks

Rechargeable cellphone batteries

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 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: With your family, create a disaster evacuation plan.

In the Activity, you discovered your risk from a natural disaster. Then in the Practice, you
created an emergency bag. Now it’s time to create the disaster plan! Use the Six P’s to write
with your family a disaster plan in case of an emergency.

Plan Action

• P1: People and Pets Names of everyone in the plan:

Insurance:
• P2: Important
Documents and Phone Other Records:
Numbers
Contact Phone Numbers:

• P3: Prescriptions and Prescriptions:

Medical Information Medical Information:

• P4: Pictures &

List of items that can’t be replaced.
Irreplaceable Items

• P5: Computer Backup Move important items to a backup or external drive.

Credit Cards:
Debit Cards:
• P6: Plastic
Identification
Passports:

• Once you have collected all the information, writing a plan is next. Begin the plan this way:

FAMILY DISASTER PLAN

In case of an emergency, the first contact is _________________ at__________. Next, contact

___________________ at _____________(Continue to list everyone and their contact phone
numbers.). We will meet at _________________________ if we are not all together when a disaster
happens. The disaster kit is (Insert the location of the disaster kit). Complete the plan by adding the
Six Ps.

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 Activity Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Instructions: Are you in a flood zone? Are you in danger from a natural disaster? Read the
paragraph and complete the table below. (Sample answers provided)

You may not have given it much thought, but before preparing for a natural disaster, you
need to know what types of natural disasters are most common in your area. For example,
if you live along the coast of Florida, hurricane season begins in June and goes into the
second week of November. But if you live in Southern California, fires are more common.
The most dangerous time for fires is the end of spring until Octobe . There is an area in
the Midwest United States known as the Tornado Alley because of the extreme number of
tornadoes occurring from mid-March through June. As you learned in this lesson, floods
can occur anywhere and anytime. Floods are the most common type of natural disaster.
So, the question is, what is the most likely natural disaster you should prepare for? And do
you need to prepare for more than one natural disaster? In the column on the right, write
what you would do if you answered yes to the questions below.

Contact your local Emergency Management Administrator in

Are you in a flood zone? your county or city. They will have maps showing the flood
zones and can tell you if you live in a flood zone.

Contact your state or local Fire Marshall. They have maps of

Are you in a fire zone?
fire hazard zones.

Your local or state Emergency Management Administrator

Do you live in Tornado Alley or
can help you with this. You can also contact the local
somewhere tornadoes frequently
weather station. They can tell you how many and when
occur?
tornadoes last occurred in your area.

Do you live in an area where the

Ice, snow, and freezing temperatures are just as dangerous
temperature frequently drops
as hurricanes or tornadoes.
below freezing during the winter?

Do you live in an area under

Water shortages are becoming more common.
severe drought?

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