Tsunamis by the Book
Grade Levels: 3 - 5
INTRODUCTION
Students will learn about the ocean wave condition known as a tsunami, and
reflect their understanding in a self-made book.
SUGGESTED TIME ALLOWANCE
60 minutes
OBJECTIVES
Students will:
learn what a tsunami is.
understand why a tsunami occurs.
explain in their own words what this condition entails.
Students will:
MATERIALS
White or blackboard
White paper, four sheets per student
Scissors
Stapler
Markers or crayons, enough for all students
Website: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/tsunami/index.html
Web page: http://ln.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0849598.html
PROCEDURES
- Write the word tsunami on the board, and pronounce it for the students. Have students read the Information Please entry about tsunamis, http://ln.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0849598.html, either aloud as a class or individually onscreen. After they’ve read the entry, have students volunteer ideas as to what a tsunami is. Write these on the board under the heading, "A tsunami is…" Next, ask for answers to another heading you’ve written on the board: "Tsunamis are caused by…"
- Have students read further about tsunamis at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/tsunami/index.html. Ask them to find more information to add to the list you’ve started on the board, taking notes while they read. Once everyone has had a chance to finish the article, ask for volunteers to add to the class list.
- Give each student four sheets of blank white paper. Ask them to fold the sheets in half and cut them, making eight sheets of paper. Have students number these from one to eight in the lower right-hand corner of each page.
- Direct students to make a book describing tsunamis. Tell them that their book should contain an explanation that could be understood by a first-grade student. It should have a cover and at least two informative illustrations. When they’re done with the individual pages, they should staple them together to create a book.
ASSESSMENT
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
STANDARDS CORRELATION
Standards at McRel: http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/Knows how features on the earth's surface are constantly changed by a
combination of slow and rapid processes (e.g., weathering, erosion, and
deposition of sediment caused by waves, wind, water, and ice; sudden changes in
the landscape caused by landslides, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes)
Summarizes and paraphrases information in texts (e.g., identifies main ideas
and supporting details)
Standards at McRel: http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/