Natural Disasters Lesson Plan: Cause and Effect

Submitted by: Angela Watson

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

In this natural disasters lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-8, students use BrainPOP resources to identify and explore various types of natural disasters. Students will explain whether natural disasters are weather-related or geology-related. Next, they’ll research a self-selected or teacher-selected natural disaster using BrainPOP resources, and complete a graphic organizer explaining the cause/effect relationships behind the selected disaster.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1

Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7

Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).

Grade: 03

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.8

Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence).

Grade: 04

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1

Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Grade: 04

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7

Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.

Grade: 04

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.8

Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.

Grade: 05

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Grade: 05

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.7

Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

Grade: 05

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.8

Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).

Grade: 06

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1

Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Grade: 06

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.7

Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

Grade: 06

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.8

Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.

Grade: 07

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.1

Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Grade: 07

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.7

Compare and contrast a text to an audio, video, or multimedia version of the text, analyzing each medium’s portrayal of the subject (e.g., how the delivery of a speech affects the impact of the words).

Grade: 07

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.8

Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims.

Grade: 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Grade: 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.7

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea.

Grade: 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.8

Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.1

Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts.

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.7

Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).

Grade: 06, 07, 08

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.9

Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.

Students will:

Identify various types of natural disasters.
Explain whether natural disasters are weather-related or geology-related.
Research a self-selected or teacher-selected natural disaster using BrainPOP resources.

Materials:

Access to the Internet and BrainPOP
Class set of photocopies with the Worksheet on one side and Graphic Organizer on the other

Vocabulary:

hurricane; tornado; flood; drought; tsunami; earthquake; volcano; wildfire; ready kit

Preparation:

Make photocopies of the forms needed. Preview the movies listed under Natural Disasters and determine which ones you would like students to use in their research.

Lesson Procedure:

Ask students what questions they'd like answered about natural disasters. Have they ever wondered what caused them? Have they noticed that certain natural disasters cause or trigger other natural disasters? Build background knowledge by talking about disasters that have been mentioned recently in the news.
Give students a copy of the Worksheet page. Have them guess the name of each natural disaster pictured and write their answers. Provide several minutes for them to complete the 'Think About It' section and then facilitate a class discussion on student responses, tying recent natural disasters to the dialogue.
Play the Natural Disasters movie for the class. Pause as needed for discussion and for students to fill in the worksheet.
Afterward, invite students to revisit the worksheet and identify each natural disaster as either weather-related or geology related. They can color the pictures in as the directions specify or simply label them with 'G' or 'W'.
Have students flip their papers over to show the Graphic Organizer. Explain that students will use this to organize their thinking as they research the natural disaster or their choice (or the one that is assigned to them based upon recent world events.)
Provide time in class or at home for students to watch the BrainPOP movie related to the selected natural disaster. You may also assign related movies, such as Greenhouse Effect and Erosion to help students understand the cause and effect relationships involved. Students who are working below grade level or lacking prior knowledge may view the BrainPOP Jr. movie on Fast Land Changes.
After watching the video(s) related to their topic, students should explore the various features and take the related quiz to test their understanding.
Have students complete the cause and effect graphic organizer, starting with one initial cause of their natural disaster and it's immediate effect. When they are finished, the graphic organizer should explain how the natural disaster begins and multiple effects that can result.

Extension Activities:

Allow students to explore the root causes of natural disasters in more detail using movies and resources from the Our Fragile Environment and Earth Systems units. These lessons can lead into a unit on earth awareness and caring for the planet.