Preparing for Extreme Natural Events

1. Have students discuss their experiences with and feelings about extreme natural events.
Remind students that an extreme natural event becomes a natural disaster when it happens where people live. Ask students if they have ever experienced the type of extreme natural event that's most common in your area. Have students share their experiences and feelings. Ask:

• What was it like?
• How did you and your family protect yourselves?

Show students the FEMA for Kids: What You Might Feel in a Disaster slideshow. Then explain that the more prepared you are for extreme natural events or natural disasters, the less you need to worry about them. Show students the photos of kids helping during a disaster on the FEMA for Kids website. Ask: Which of these would you do if a natural disaster happened?

2. Discuss safety and preparation tips. 
Show students the FEMA for Kids: The Disaster Area web page. Click on the extreme natural event that’s most common in your area. Explore any sub-sections, such as Things to Know, Disaster Supply Kit, and Photos. On the board, list some of the key safety and preparation tips you find, such as what to do with pets or what to do if you are separated from family members.

3. Have students create natural disaster preparation and safety signs.
Divide the class into small groups. Assign each group one of the safety tips you've read and listed. Give each group a piece of posterboard or large pieces of paper and ask them to create signs to educate other students and adults about the importance of disaster preparation and their assigned safety tip. If possible, have groups return to the websites to help them create their signs. Then have each group share their sign with the class. Post the signs in the classroom or hallway.

Extending the Learning

Some of the extreme natural events on the The Disaster Area web page include first-person accounts of kids who experienced that natural event or disaster. Have students read aloud some of the first-person accounts. Ask students to identify the emotions of the writer. Then have students imagine the experience and write about how they might have felt during that natural disaster. Encourage them to add drawings that support their writing.

Connections to National Standards

National Council for Social Studies Curriculum Standards

• Theme 3:  

People, Places, and Environments

National Geography Standards

• Standard 15:  

How Physical Systems Affect Human Systems

National Science Education Standards

• (K-4) Standard F-4:  

Changes in environments

Background Information

Every person and family needs to plan for what might happen during an extreme natural event or natural disaster. It’s important to know how to stay safe when the unexpected happens.

Vocabulary