Tsunami Teacher Resources

A flood of information about tsunamis can be learned by viewing this feature. How do they get started? How fast do they travel? How high can they rise? The answers to these questions, plus a little bit of history, are given for your...

How does the depth of an ocean affect the speed of a tsunami's waves? Use Jell-o, graham crackers, and marshmallows to model the effects of an underwater earthquake and its resulting tsunami. The lesson includes hands-on activities,...

Learners examine the tsunami of 2004. They look at what created the wave, the destruction it caused, and the needs of the survivors. Pupils utilize an interactive website that sheds further light on the causes of tsunamis and the types...

Learn about the reaction of one man in particular to the devastating tsunami of December 2004. Pupils read a one-page article about coming back after a disaster and respond to questions about the content of the reading and the structure...

Tsunamis are one of the most terrifying natural disasters on Earth. This excellent video explains why tsunamis occur and has some scintillating footage of recent tsunamis - including the recent one in Japan and the one that occurred in...

Students can explain the causes of a tsunami and its effects.  In this tsunami lesson plan, students create a tsunami generator.  Students create waves with a metal plate. students create houses and find which designs last best in a...

Students discover the causes of tsunamis in oceans and fjords. They perform an experiment to discover how calving icebergs can create different wave patterns in the ocean and in a fjord. In addition, they draw a diagram to illustrate the...

Students comprehend tsunamis, where they are likely to occur, and that underwater earthquakes cause them. They discuss what can be done to protect people form a tsunami, such as using computerized bupys, wave simulation machines,...

Go beyond the typical earthquake drill and prepare your learners to become proactive responders in the event of an emergency. From blackouts and droughts to thunderstorms and extreme cold, your class members will discover how disasters...

This kid knows his stuff. A middle schooler explains the five-step process that occurs as a tsunami forms. He relates his tsunami research to the events that occurred in Japan in 2011. The question he poses can be discussed by you class....

Students create a PowerPoint presentation on the development of tsunami warning centers. For this earth science lesson, students research about past tsunami events that led to the development of these warning centers. They recommend ways...

Discuss how technology is used to communicate information regarding earthquakes and tsunamis by having students develop their own public safety announcement for hazard mitigation purposes. They will go through the scientific method to...

Learners explore the different technology used in mapping tsunami using an interactive website. In this earth science instructional activity, students compare the pros and cons of each method used. They create their own tsunami...

Pupils examine an article about tsunami warning systems and discuss why they are important. They conduct an experiment that shows how the velocity of a wave in water changes with the depth. 

Do you plan to get your scientists engaged in the power of nature with the documentary: America's Tsunami-- Are We Next? If so, this 37-question viewing guide will keep your scholars attentive as they record pertinent details such as,...

Students calculate the speed of tsunami using a mathematical formula. For this environmental science lesson, students explain why knowing its speed is important. They convert measurements from one unit to another.

Have your class discuss the signs of an impending tsunami using literature. Learners read The Big Wave and discuss the actions taken by the villagers. They role play using scenes from the book. They answer questions and complete a...

Considering such conflicts as the Vietnam War and the war in Afghanistan, what motivates nations to cooperate? Your class members will analyze past and current international events in order to understand the types of conditions and...

Students explore tsunami through various hands-on activities. In this earth science lesson, students explain how they are formed. They create tsunami and earthquake models in the lab to observe how they are generated.

Students examine the importance of tsunami warning systems. They read and discuss an article, conduct an experiment in a wave tank, calculate wave velocities of tsunamis, and identify what happens to tsunamis as they approach a shoreline.

Students examine the impact of tsunamis. In this tsunami lesson, students read clues and use critical thinking skills to determine why the HMS Chatham was diverted from Dubai in 2004. Students also research tsunamis and create...

Students investigate the behavior and different origins of tsunami waves, and they then research and chart the path of certain tsunamis from recent history using the Internet, maps and firsthand accounts.

The BBC reports on the Indian Ocean tsunami that occurred in 2004 off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia as a result of an earthquake. Footage of the waves and destruction around the area is shown. Maps delineate the quake's epicenter and...

The largest recorded earthquake in Japan in the last 140 years triggered a tsunami in 2011. Live footage of the event was captured and is shown in this clip. The extensive damage is evident as water floods cities. In a social studies or...