Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: A Complete List of Natural Disasters

For Students 4th - 8th
Explains what a natural disaster is and provides a list of every type along with a short description of each.
Website
The Field Museum

Field Museum: Exhibits: Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover the true powers of Mother Nature through this vivid collection of research which delves into the causes of natural disasters and the impacts on those affected.
Handout
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Natural Disasters

For Students 9th - 10th
Enrich studying natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes. Know how to identify several types of natural disasters that occur in Florida, and describe how these disasters can affect people living there.
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Natural Disasters

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to our planet's structure and its dynamic system of natural forces through an examination of the natural hazards of earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunamis, floods and tornados, as well as avalanches, fires,...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Preparing for a Disaster

For Teachers 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about how to stay safe during different types of natural disasters. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Unit Plan
Geographypods

Geographypods: Theme 2: Natural Environments

For Students 9th - 10th
A rich collection of highly engaging learning modules on topics related to the natural environment. Covers four main areas - plate tectonics, forms and processes, weather and climate, and rainforest and desert. Within each of these,...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Naturally Disastrous

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to natural disasters, and learn the difference between natural hazards and natural disasters. They discover the many types of natural hazards - avalanche, earthquake, flood, forest fire, hurricane, landslide,...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Survive That Tsunami!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use a table-top-sized tsunami generator to observe the formation and devastation of a tsunami. They see how a tsunami moves across the ocean and what happens when it reaches the continental shelf. Students make villages of model...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Land on the Run

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about landslides, discovering that there are different types of landslides that occur at different speeds - from very slow to very quick. All landslides are the result of gravity, friction and the materials involved. Both...
Graphic
National Weather Service

National Weather Service: Weather Fatality, Injury and Damage Statistics

For Students 9th - 10th
Web site that contains detailed statistics involving natural disasters by year and type of disaster. Statistics are available in .pdf format.
Handout
NOAA

Noaa: Tornadoes, Nature's Most Violent Storms

For Students 9th - 10th
This page, put out by the National Weather Service, thoroughly explains the causes and types of tornadoes. Tornado safety is covered in the form of warning signs and what you can do to stay safe both in school and at home. The full...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Are You Prepared?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Natural disasters come in many different forms. In order to be better prepared, students have to know the different types of disasters. In this lesson students will research natural disasters in order to create a brochure highlighting an...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Rock Solid

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Rocks cover the earth's surface, including what is below or near human-made structures. With rocks everywhere, breaking rocks can be hazardous and potentially disastrous to people. Students are introduced to three types of material...
Unit Plan
Geographypods

Geographypods: Hazards and Risk Management: Vulnerability

For Students 11th - 12th
This learning module examines people's vulnerability to hazards and disasters. It looks at the reasons people live in hazard-prone areas, what factors affect their vulnerability, and what vulnerability looks like in different types of...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Making & Breaking: The Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn the components of the rock cycle and how rocks can change over time under the influence of weathering, erosion, pressure and heat. They learn about geotechnical engineering and the role these engineers play in the...
Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: Your Cool Facts and Tips on Earthquakes

For Students 4th - 7th
Explains what earthquakes are, what causes them, the different types, tsunamis that can be caused by them, and how to prepare if living in an earthquake-prone area.
Website
US Geological Survey

Us Geological Survey: Earthquake Hazards

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about earthquake hazards and damage. Some of the topics are an introduction to hazards, hazard maps, soil types and damage, and recent damage caused by earthquakes.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Pump It!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Pumps are used to get drinking water to our houses every day! And in disaster situations, pumps are essential to keep flood water out. In this hands-on activity, student groups design, build, test and improve devices to pump water as if...
Website
Tramline

Hurricane Virtual Field Trip

For Teachers 9th - 10th
What conditions are necessary to create a hurricane? Where do hurricanes occur? When is hurricane season? What is the difference between a tropical cyclone and a hurricane? How is the strength of a hurricane measured? Where do hurricanes...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Tsunami Attack!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about tsunamis, discovering what causes them and what makes them so dangerous. They learn that engineers design detection and warning equipment, as well as structures that that can survive the strong wave forces. In a...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Volcanic Panic!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about the causes, composition and types of volcanoes. They begin with an overview of the Earth's interior and how volcanoes form. Once students know about how a volcano functions, they learn how engineers predict...
Handout
University of Chicago

Ten Risky Places United States

For Students 9th - 10th
Hazards of different types affecting areas of varying size are assessed in California, Seattle, Hawaii and elsewhere.
Handout
Weather Wiz Kids

Weather Wiz Kids: Volcanos

For Students 1st - 5th
Great resource for learning all about tornadoes. Find out how they are formed, how they erupt, the different types, and notable volcanic eruptions. Also includes safety tips, animations, and activities.
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Rock Cycle

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Through five lessons, students are introduced to all facets of the rock cycle. Topics include rock and mineral types, material stresses and weathering, geologic time and fossil formation, the Earth's crust and tectonic plates, and soil...