Surviving the Storm

Note: Be sensitive to students’ experiences and consider how students may need support processing their experiences with natural disasters. Have students brainstorm natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes and earthquakes). Ask: What do you think causes these natural disasters? How do these natural disasters affect people and communities? Record students’ responses. Tell students they are going to see what it’s like to be in a severe windstorm. Play the video “Derecho” and ask students to describe their observations.

Read the article aloud. Analyze the “How a Derecho Forms” diagram (p. 16), analyzing key ideas about cold air sinking and warm air rising, as well as air masses interacting to create wind. Distribute the “Storm Formation” skills sheet and let students complete it in small groups. Discuss their responses.

Note: Consider that some students may have had traumatic experiences. Encourage them to share only if they are comfortable. Reassure them that their feelings in response to this kind of experience are normal. Consider discussing how communities and people offer support during and after disasters. Ask for students’ reactions to the experiences of the people in the article. Ask if they have had similar experiences with severe storms. What was it like? How did the storm affect you, your family, other people, and the community where you live? Have students complete the article’s “Check for Understanding” and discuss their responses. 

Split the class into small groups and distribute the “Types of Storms” skills sheet. Have student groups compare and contrast the different storm types. When everyone is finished, reconvene and discuss characteristics shared by all of the storms. (For example, formed by the interaction of cold and warm air, precipitation in the form of rain or snow, etc.) Read the post-reading question aloud: Do you know what to do if an extreme storm hits? Brainstorm things you might do to stay safe. Then have students use the resources in the Learning Extension (found at the end of the online scrollable article) to create a safety plan.

Have students complete the “Describe and Draw” graphic organizer to connect the article to their own experiences. Let students share in small groups.

⇨ SEL: This lesson plan contains social-emotional learning (SEL) support related to self-management.

⇨ VIDEO EXTRA: Watch a video showing the conditions during a derecho.