Posted by David Wetzel
Google Earth View of Sicily's Mount Etna Eruption 2002
Almost everyday a natural disaster occurs somewhere in the world. These disasters include volcano eruptions, flooding, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, and more.
Most students rarely have a personal encounter with the effects of natural disasters, during their school years. However, almost all will have an encounter sometime during their lifetime.
The most common encounter for everyone with a natural disaster is by watching TV or reading about them on the Internet. This leads to little personal interaction and understanding of the causes of the disaster.
There is one technology today which allows students to watch natural disasters unfold or see the effects after they have occurred — Google Earth.
This free technology provides students with a bird’s eye view of a natural disaster area with remarkable high resolution. Students and teachers have access to this technology and they can investigate the cause and effect of any natural disaster in the world.
Project Based Learning: Studying the Effects of Disasters
When word of a natural disaster is spreading from somewhere in the world or announced on the news, students can use Google Earth to conduct an investigation of the disaster’s effect.
If enough warning is given, for example a hurricane or typhoon; students can view the expected land fall areas before the storm strikes. Then they can view the effects after the hurricane or typhoon passes through the area.
Other natural disasters students can investigate include:
- Volcano Eruptions – investigating lava flows, impact on surrounding vegetation, impact of surrounding region, and if there will be a global impact.
- Earthquakes – investigating the impact on cities, human development activities, and land masses.
- Major Floods – investigating flooded regions, along with impact on watersheds.
- Tsunamis – investigating the destructive power of Tsunamis, by comparing before and after images of a seashore area and surrounding landscape.
Problem Solving: Studying the Cause and Effect of Specific Natural Disasters
Students develop and create a variety of questions to guide their investigations related to a natural disaster. Then use Google Earth, Online Media, News Reports, Twitter, and Skype to follow through on their investigations. Examples include:
- What is the impact on local residents?
- What is the impact on the stability of man made dikes that hold back flood waters?
- What continents are likely to be affected by the ash fallout from the volcano eruption?
- What protection measures did the region have before the Tsunami struck the coast?
- What type of plates make up the San Andres fault in California?
- What other volcanoes are in the area and are they likely to erupt?
Additional Science Projects Using Google Earth
Google Earth and Global Warming Projects
Thematic Units Using Google Earth
Posted by David Wetzel
Natural Disasters
Everyday natural disasters occur somewhere in the world. Disasters are caused by flooding, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, and more.
Students rarely have the ability to view the effects of natural disasters, except on TV.
However, there is one technology that is available for students to watch natural disasters occur or see the effects after they have occurred.
This technology is called Google Earth. Using this free technology, students get a bird’s eye view of a natural disaster area with remarkable high resolution.
This technology was only available to scientists and government officials until recently. Teachers and students now have access to this technology and they can investigate the cause and effect of any natural disaster in the world.
Google Earth
When word of a natural disaster is unfolding somewhere in the world and announced on the news, students can use Google Earth to conduct an investigation of the disaster’s effect.
If enough warning is given, examples are a hurricane or typhoon; students can view the expected land fall areas before they strike. Then students can view the effects after the hurricane or typhoon passes through the area.
Natural Disasters
Students can investigate using Google Earth, include:
Volcano Eruptions – investigation lava flows and impact on surrounding vegetation.
Earthquakes – especially in populated areas, investigating the impact on human development and land masses.
Major Floods – investigate floods, along with watershed cause and effects.
Tsunamis – investigate the destructive power of Tsunamis, by comparing before and after images of the seashore and surrounding landscape.
Wild Fires – investigate and track the spread of wild fires anywhere in the world to determine the effect, when compared to previous data.
Droughts – monitor the effect on vegetation, rivers, and watersheds as droughts continue over a period of time.
Blizzards – investigate the effect when blizzards cover a large region, such as the east coast blizzard of 1995.
Tornadoes – investigate the damage caused by a tornadoes’ impact on areas populated by humans, comparing the different levels of tornadoes.
Additional Information and Resources
Natural Disasters and Investigating Causes
Understanding Scientific Inquiry
20 Questions to Ask Students in Science Projects
Google Earth
Posted by David Wetzel
I am starting a new section that will be posted every Sunday - it is called the “Week in Review - the Top 5.” These are the top five posts visited during the past week my visitors to this blog.
I would like to thank all the subscribers to my Teach Science and Math Newsletter, new subscribers this week, and all those who visit and find the information useful.
Another week is about to begin and the following are the here are the Top 5:
Standing on the Moon
Rubric Assessment Tools in Science and Math
Using Google Earth in Science and Math
Teaching Science Discrepant Events
Student Math and Science Games for Kids with ADHD
