Mother Nature Enraged: Finding Out about Natural Hazards

Production Phase 1

1 or 2 class periods

The following is an exploration phase that allows students to examine the issues of natural disasters from different perspectives once again, but this time in a way that provides specific data and examples that surround the issue.  Links to collections of relevant information help students in their exploration.



Geological and Climatic Hazards

20 minutes

Teacher
The teacher presents various types of natural disasters to the students.

GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides
CLIMATIC HAZARDS: tropical cyclones, floods, drought

Explore the onsite collection entitled:  Cities Subject to Natural Hazards

Also visit

• http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/hazard/hazards.shtml
• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/natures.html
• http://www.prevention2000.org (French only)

Natural Hazards Map
30 minutes

Teacher
The teacher hands out copies of statistical tables on natural disasters in various countries of the world (frequency, cost and number of deaths) and asks students to construct a map indicating the main risk areas in the world.

Students
Using the statistical tables, the students build a map of the world (Word format or PDF) including a legend with a colour code for frequency, dollar signs of different sizes for the costs of damages and people of different sizes for the number of deaths.

For more statistics and information, consult the geography collection on natural hazards.