Natural DisastersA Webquest for grades 3 -5

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Introduction

Imagine that you are part of a national emergency response team. Your job is to work together with your group members to develop a weather forecast which will prepare viewers and listeners for an impending natural disaster.

Each group will present a different forecast by exploring a different disaster. The natural disasters to choose from include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, thunderstorms, winter storms, volcanoes, earthquakes, wildfires, and heat/drought.

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Introduction

When we study natural disasters, there are many aspects we must consider.

In the following WebQuest, you will use the power of teamwork to learn all about natural disasters and emergency safety.

Then you will come together at the end to share your forecasts and get a better understanding of all natural disasters.

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FINDS - Focus

Diggity Dog Organizer

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Task

Your team has chosen a specific natural disaster. You will use the links provided, as well as any other resources you feel are necessary, to become experts on your disaster. You and your team will work together to create a 3-5 minute video weather forecast, using Photo Booth or if available digital video cameras, that will prepare your classmates for when the disaster occurs. By completing this WebQuest, you should achieve the following goals: 

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Goals 

1. develop an interest in the study of weather safety and natural disasters  

2. use the power of the Internet and online library database's for advanced exploration 

3. learn information about key aspects of natural disasters and emergency preparedness 

4. expand and share knowledge of natural disasters and production of video clips 

5. work with teammates to prepare others for a variety of potential natural disasters.

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FINDS - Note

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Fact Fragment Frenzy

Fact Fragment Frenzy, included in an extended research skills unit which also employs the Hints about Print interactive, aids students in learning the importance of finding the words in sentences and paragraphs that contain the facts they need for compiling their research. They practice by pulling important words from a text over to a virtual notebook (shown at left).

Click here for tutorial

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Hints About Print

Hints about Print, included in an extended research skills unit which also employs the Fact Fragment Frenzy interactive, aids students in evaluating print resources that contain the facts they need for compiling their research.

Click here for tutorial

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FINDS - Develop

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Process• Explore the websites for your group’s specific

disaster to determine the answers to all questions on the

• NATURAL DISASTER WEBQUEST WORKSHEET.

• (click back button to return to slide 11)

• Be sure to properly cite ALL sources of information.

• Now, as a group, prepare a 3-5 minute weather forecast highlighting important information discovered during your WebQuest exploration and focusing specifically on safety.

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FINDS -Investigate

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Phase 3

Phase 3 - Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about different aspects of natural disasters through the Weather WebQuest. You must now complete the Task as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the web sites you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's response. Your WebQuest team should write out an answer (forecast) that everyone on the team can live with.

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Process

• Use maps, other graphics, and/or audio to enhance your forecast.

• The forecast must be videotaped using classroom computers and applications.• Photo Booth

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Process

OVERVIEW:

1. Form groups of 2 -3 students each.

2. Examine the “Background Information” links to get a general overview of natural disasters.

3. Each group must then choose a different natural disaster to research.

You may choose from the following

• floods• hurricanes• tornadoes• tsunamis• thunder/lightning storms• winter storms• volcanoes• earthquakes• wildfires• heat/drought

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Process

• The final days of the project will be spent viewing the videos from each group. While viewing the other groups’ videos, you will evaluate and provide feedback according to the VIDEO PRESENTATION RUBRIC.

• Finally, you will submit a short (1/2-page) reflection on your WebQuest experience using the WEBQUEST REFLECTION.

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Process – Phase 1

Phase 1 - Background InformationThese sites are important because they will provide basic information about natural disasters as a whole. Everyone should explore Destiny Quest before starting your specific Task.  

Find a book using DestinyLog into Destiny Quest use One Search to find

background information

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Process – Phase 1

Phase 1 - Background InformationThese sites are important because they will provide basic information about natural disasters as a whole. Everyone should explore these sites before starting your specific Task.  

Department of Homeland Security-Emergency!

Weather Wiz Kids

FEMA for Kids

National Geographic/Natural Disasters

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Process - Phase 2Phase 2 – Roles

These natural disaster categories were chosen because they each require swift and specific action from the National Emergency Response Team. Each of you has been assigned a particular disaster with links and instructions below. Here are the general instructions for all groups.

 INSTRUCTIONS:

1. All members from each WebQuest team will explore one of the natural disasters below.

2. Read through the files designated for your group. You can print out pages and underline the parts that you feel are important or cut and paste from the webpage into a word processor.

3. Remember to include the URL of the page you take information from so you can return to it and use it as a citation.

4. Focus what you've learned into one concise meteorological report to fulfill the Task.

• floods• hurricanes• tornadoes• tsunamis• thunder/lightning storms• winter storms• volcanoes• earthquakes• wildfires• heat/drought  

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Internet Links 

Floods:

FEMA Floods Weather Wiz Kids-Rain/FloodsNational Geographic Floods  

Tsunamis:

FEMA Tsunamis TIME for Kids Tsunamis NOAA Tsunamis

Hurricanes: FEMA Hurricanes Weather Channel Kids Hurricane Safety Weather Wiz Kids-Hurricanes

Tornadoes:

NOAA Tornado Safety National Geographic Tornadoes FEMA Tornadoes

Thunderstorms: NOAA Lightning Wiz Kids Thunderstorms National Geographic Lightning

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Internet LinksWinter Storms:

Scholastic Winter Storms National Geographic Avalanche Weather Wiz Kids-Winter Storms

Volcanoes: Scholastic Volcano National Geographic Volcano FEMA Volcano

Wildfires: US Fire Administration for Kids FEMA Wildfires Wiz Kids-Wildfires

Heat & Drought:

Univ. of Nebraska Lincoln Drought NOAA Heat San Diego State Univ. Drought

Earthquakes: USGS Earthquake Scholastic Earthquakes National Geographic Earthquakes

 

Use these links to answer the questions on the Natural Disasters WebQuest Worksheet.

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Evaluation

Evaluation Rubric

   

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Conclusion

So, are there more similarities or differences between each group's forecast? Well, when you're only looking at one aspect, it's easy to miss the big picture--especially when trying to understand a topic as broad and complex as natural disasters and emergency safety. Now you all know a lot more about all types of natural disasters. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of other topics and into the grayer areas? What other parts of the Natural Disasters WebQuest could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.

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Extentions

Projects suggested by students:

Environmental Disasters:

Meteors

Oil Spills

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NATURAL DISASTER WEBQUEST WORKSHEET

click on image to download worksheetClick here to return to slide 11

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Graphic Organizer

Create a graphic organizer about your topic.

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Essay Interactive

NATURAL DISASTER WEBQUEST WORKSHEET

This interactive graphic organizer helps students develop an outline that includes an introductory statement, main ideas they want to discuss or describe, supporting details, and a conclusion that summarizes the main ideas.

Complete the worksheet before using the Essay Map

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FINDS - Score

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Reflection

 WebQuest Reflection 

What elements did you like best? What parts did you like least? What would you want to do differently the next time you do a WebQuest? Overall, did you enjoy your WebQuest experience or did you dislike it?

Copy above paragraph to your team notebook

Write your refection in AppleWorks of MS Word

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Credits

Adapted from: Zunal Webquest

For FINDS Model of research and Destiny Quest

The Public URL for this WebQuest: www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=37658