I think natural disasters can provide great learning experiences for our students. Not all areas experience the same weather related phenomena and I feel it is important to understand what can occur in different parts of the world. Living in Ohio, earthquakes and tsunamis are not really a threat but the recent disaster in Japan has provided some valuable learning experiences for my students. They now have a greater understanding of just how devastating both earthquakes and tsunamis can be.
After last year’s disaster in Haiti, my school conducted a fundraiser and was able to send more than $1,000 to help relief efforts. We are currently organizing another fundraiser this year to assist with relief efforts in Japan. I am going to have my students work in small groups creating posters that will be hung around the school to advertise this fundraiser. These fundraisers are a great way for all of the students in my school to work together for a worthy cause. I will also make sure my students are aware of how many countries helped out America after the tragedies on September 11, 2001. There are also many churches and community centers in the area that are ask people to work together to help provide some relief for others after a natural disaster.
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that your students got involved in raising money for the Haiti disaster. I feel it's very important tthat we get our studnets involved in this sort of situation and make them aware of how they can help other communities as we were helped after Septermber 11th. We did some similar fund raising activities after hurricane Katrina. It makes you feel like you can do at least something to help out.
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Midwest, I feel protected from many natural disasters--including tsunamis and hurricanes. I'm still in disbelief over the amount of devastation in Japan! I think it is important for students to see those images to really appreciate the good fortune that we have had so far, as well as the level of destruction that can be caused in a natural disaster.
At the beginning of the year my 6th graders learn about plate tectonics. This includes a dance that we do to show the various types of plate boundaries. The unit includes many activities that are fun for the kids, but doesn't really get into what can happen when these plates interact with one another. The disasters in Japan and Haiti show that there is more involved in these interactions than we usually think about.
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is wonderful that your school is coming together to support the relief efforts in Japan.
I have shared this link already with a couple of other people in the class, but there is a wonderful way to become involved at:
http://studentsrebuild.org/japan/
If your school doesn't have a fundraiser like Andrew's yet, consider this idea! Amy