Natural Disasters

A Webquest for grades 3 -5

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.

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.

FINDS - Focus

iggity Dog Organizer

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:

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.

FINDS - Note

Fact Fragment Frenzy

Click here for

tutorial

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).

Hints About Print

Click here for tutorial

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.

FINDS - Develop

10

Process

Explore the websites for your groups 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.

11

FINDS -Investigate

12

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.

13

Process

Use maps, other graphics, and/or audio to

enhance your forecast.

The forecast must be videotaped using

classroom computers and applications.

Photo Booth

14

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

15

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.

16

Process Phase 1
Phase 1 - Background Information
These 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 Destiny
Log into Destiny Quest
use One Search to find
background information

17

Process Phase 1
Phase 1 - Background Information
These 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

18

Process - Phase 2
Phase 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

19

Internet Links

Floods:
FEMA Floods Weather Wiz Kids-Rain/Floods
National 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

20

Internet Links
Winter 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.

21

Evaluation
Evaluation Rubric

22

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.

23

Extentions
Projects suggested by students:
Environmental Disasters:
Meteors
Oil Spills

24

NATURAL DISASTER
WEBQUEST WORKSHEET

click on
image
to
downloa
d
workshe
et

Click here to return to slide 11

25

Graphic Organizer

Create

26

a graphic organizer about your

topic.

Essay Interactive
Complete the
worksheet before
using
the Essay Map
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,

27

FINDS - Score

28

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

29

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

30