Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma), May 2008

The tragedy of the May 2008 cyclone in Myanmar (also known as Burma) may have your students wondering why such large catastrophes occur and how they might be affected by natural disasters. These resources will help you explain cyclones to your class, who might only be familiar with the term "hurricane." According to Infoplease.com, "a tropical cyclone that has matured to a severe intensity is called a hurricane when it occurs in the Atlantic Ocean or adjacent seas, a typhoon when it occurs in the Pacific Ocean or adjacent seas, or simply a cyclone or tropical cyclone when it occurs in the Indian Ocean region." If your students feel overwhelmed by the number of deaths, help them grasp death and disaster with our crisis resources.

General References Cyclones Throughout History Read about the various cyclones throughout history. The date of the storm, details of the occurrence, and the number of casualties are provided. Hurricanes Teach students how hurricanes develop and how these powerful storms are named. Hurricane History Learn about tropical cyclones that have occurred in different areas throughout the North Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and East-Central North Pacific Basins. Hurricane Basics Learn about the conditions that create a hurricane, and how to stay safe in the case of a hurricane. How Hurricanes Are Named This article explains how the practice of naming hurricanes began. Hurricane Resource: High Winds Learn how hurricanes are categorized and how to prepare for the high winds associated with a hurricane. Hurricane Resource: Storm Surge Learn how storm surges are formed and how you can protect your family from the effects of a storm surge. Weather Terms Test your students' knowledge of weather-related vocabulary with this word list. Retired Hurricane Names A particularly notable hurricane will have its name retired so other hurricanes can't have the same name. Beaufort Wind Scale A chart detailing the Beaufort Wind Scale. Activities & Worksheets Comparing Martian Dust Storms to Earth's Cyclones This science investigation gives students hands-on experience with some principles about air pressure on Earth and on Mars. Storm Trackers Connect geography, math, language arts, and science with this unit on the tracking of a hurricane. Tracking a Hurricane In this simulation, students will track a hurricane in the manner of a meteorologist. Reading Warm-Up 60 for Gr. 5 & 6: Science Students learn about hurricanes as they improve their reading comprehension skills with the science reading passage and questions in this printable warm-up. Clouds and Storms: Vocabulary Distribute a printable set of vocabulary words related to clouds and storms. Clouds and Storms: Family Activity Suggest a family activity to parents that includes home projects and vocabulary words to help children understand how clouds affect the weather, when to expect severe weather, and what precipitation means. Science, Technology and Society: Supercomputers Can Track Super Storms Discuss how supercomputers can be used to predict the weather. Students are then asked to respond to the reading on an included worksheet. Eyewitness Weather Printables This printable set supports Eyewitness: Weather, from the DK Eyewitness Series. It contains two scavenger hunts (one for the book and one for the video), a wordsearch with relevant vocabulary, and a weather-related creative writing assignment. Weather Forecasting – Science, Technology, and Society Distribute an assignment on weather predictions and the job of a weather forecaster.

Safety Preparation Materials How to Prepare for a Hurricane Planning ahead can save lives and help you get your household back in order once the storm has passed. Flooding Safety Inland flooding can be a major threat after a hurricane. Learn what to do in case of a flood. Survival Kits The best way to handle a disaster is to be prepared, as students learn in this printable. Family Disaster Plan Learn how to prepare your family in the case of a hurricane. Teaching Disasters & Crises Cause and Effect A cause and effect analysis is an attempt to understand why things happen as they do. Use this resource to help your students understand the effects of various events and actions, so they have a better grasp on the way the world operates. Helping Kids Cope in a Time of Crisis and Fear Peruse an article that is intended for parents, but has useful advice for teachers. It details, by age levels, how to explain horrific events to children. Impact of Disaster on Students with Exceptionalities How to prepare your exceptional students during disasters both on school campuses and in their respective communities. Intervention Strategies for Disaster How to prepare yourself and your class for disasters. Development of a Child's Understanding of Death An age breakdown of the development of children understanding death. More on Helping Students Deal with Crises Maps of Asia Show your students where Myanmar is located on one of these maps. Outline Map of Asia Map of Asia Political Map of Asia and the Pacific Islands Charities Providing Aid to Cyclone Victims If you're students are interested in collecting money to donate to victims, or if you just want to help, these charities have specific funds dedicated to helping those affected by the 2008 China Earthquake. These groups are approved as four-star organizations by Charity Navigator, an independent business that evaluates charities to ensure your money is used as intended. American Red Cross U.S. Fund for UNICEF Operation USA Save the Children Other Natural Disasters Be prepared for future wide-scale natural disasters with lessons and materials on volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornadoes. Floods Hurricanes Tornadoes Tsunamis Volcanoes More Natural Disasters – Teacher Resources