Disaster Expert Research

Class Period: ______________

Tsunami Science & Ocean Displacement

Explain tectonic displacement, ocean energy buildup, and how waves compress to rise near coasts:

Impact on People & Places

Describe how surging waters destroy beach towns, wash away concrete harbors, and displace populations:

Secondary Hazards (Results of Flooding)

What else happens (saltwater well contamination, severe coastal soil erosion, harbor debris fires)?

Staying Safe

DART ocean floor alarms, drawback signals, and evacuation paths:

Interesting Facts

Harbor Wave meaning, deep water ship invisibility, or ocean speeds:

Step 2: Pre-Write Drafting Phase

TSUNAMI RESEARCH PRE-WRITE

1. Effects on People & Places (How Communities are Altered)

Describe how powerful water walls destroy ports, submerge towns, and displace citizens:

2. What Happens as a Result (Secondary Disasters & Consequences)

Detail other disasters triggered (saltwater wells contamination, harbor fuel debris fires, soil erosion):

3. How to Stay Safe during the Event & Interesting Facts

Outline safe locations (evacuation routes, high ground) and include an interesting tsunami fact:

Remember to write in clear, complete 5th grade sentences.

Step 3: Support Writing Scaffolds & QA

TSUNAMI WRITING SUPPORT

Sentence Starters for Expert Researchers

How tsunamis affect people and places:

• "When a tsunami rushes onto a coastline, the ports and towns experienced suffer because..."
• "People living near shorelines are displaced from their homes by the water surge, leading to..."
• "If a harbor is hit by a surging wall of water, the physical structures are altered by..."

What can happen as a result (consequences):

• "As a direct result of saltwater flooding, local drinking water reservoirs are contaminated when..."
• "Once massive waves erode coastal soil structures, it causes secondary disasters like..."
• "Debris caught in the receding water surge acts as battery rams, leading to..."

Staying safe and interesting facts:

• "To stay safe when warning networks detect sea pressure shifts, residents must immediately..."
• "The fascinating meaning of the word 'tsunami' represents Japanese characters that..."
• "If people witness the coastline experience ocean pullback, they must escape because..."

Student Research Checklist Rubric

Name: ______________________

Date: ______________________

Class Period: ______________

Hurricane Science & Ocean Formation

Explain how warm ocean water (80°F+), rising moist air, and wind speed (74+ mph) create a spinning storm:

Impact on People & Places

Describe how the storm surge and wind damage homes, wash away beaches, and displace families:

Secondary Hazards (Results of the Storm)

What else happens (flash floods, mudslides, contaminated drinking water, power outages)?

Staying Safe

Watch vs. Warning steps & evacuation rules:

Interesting Facts

The eye of the storm or alternate names:

Step 2: Pre-Write Drafting Phase

HURRICANE RESEARCH PRE-WRITE

1. Effects on People & Places (How Communities are Altered)

Describe the damage to beaches, roads, houses, and the displacement of families:

2. What Happens as a Result (Secondary Disasters & Consequences)

Detail what other crises happen after landfall (flash flooding, water contamination, long-term blackouts):

3. How to Stay Safe during the Event & Interesting Facts

Outline the survival plan (evacuations, survival kits) and include an eye-opening fact:

Remember to write in clear, complete 5th grade sentences.

Step 3: Support Writing Scaffolds & QA

HURRICANE WRITING SUPPORT

Sentence Starters for Expert Researchers

How hurricanes affect people and places:

• "When a hurricane hits a coastline, the high winds and storm surges..."
• "Families living in coastal neighborhoods can be displaced because..."
• "Hurricanes cause severe physical damage to places by..."

What can happen as a result (consequences):

• "As a result of the heavy rains, secondary disasters like..."
• "When high winds snap power lines, the community experiences..."
• "Water treatment systems can become flooded, which leads to..."

Staying safe and interesting facts:

• "To stay safe during a hurricane, the most important rule is to..."
• "An interesting fact about hurricanes is that the center of the storm is..."
• "A basic survival kit must include items like..."

Student Research Checklist Rubric

TORNADO RESEARCH ORGANIZER

Name: ______________________

Date: ______________________

Class Period: ______________

Tornado Science & Land Formation

Explain warm vs. cold air collision, severe updrafts, and how funnel clouds touch the ground:

Impact on People & Places

Describe how extreme winds damage buildings, destroy schools, and displace families in minutes:

Secondary Hazards (Results of the Storm)

What else happens (broken gas pipelines, neighborhood fires, flying debris, soil contamination)?

Staying Safe

Watch vs. Warning actions & best interior shelter rooms:

Interesting Facts

Tornado Alley statistics or invisible funnel facts:

Step 2: Pre-Write Drafting Phase

TORNADO RESEARCH PRE-WRITE

1. Effects on People & Places (How Communities are Altered)

Describe how violent winds smash structures, destroy schools, and displace families:

2. What Happens as a Result (Secondary Disasters & Consequences)

Detail other disasters triggered (gas line explosions, fires, soil chemical contamination, blackouts):

3. How to Stay Safe during the Event & Interesting Facts

Outline safe locations (basements, interior shelters) and include an interesting tornado fact:

Remember to write in clear, complete 5th grade sentences.

Step 3: Support Writing Scaffolds & QA

TORNADO WRITING SUPPORT

Sentence Starters for Expert Researchers

How tornadoes affect people and places:

• "When a violent tornado touches down, the places in its path are..."
• "Communities and families suffer immense physical damage because..."
• "Because tornadoes strike so suddenly, people have only..."

What can happen as a result (consequences):

• "As a direct result of strong spinning winds, secondary disasters like..."
• "Ruptured gas lines under broken buildings can start massive..."
• "Chemical storage tanks on farms can spill, which leads to..."

Staying safe and interesting facts:

• "To stay safe when a tornado warning sounds, families must..."
• "An interesting fact about tornadoes is that they are invisible until..."
• "In 'Tornado Alley,' these storm formations happen because..."

Student Research Checklist Rubric

Step 1: Organizer Student Copy

EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH ORGANIZER

Name: ______________________

Date: ______________________

Class Period: ______________

Earthquake Science & Fault Friction

Explain tectonic plates, fault boundaries getting stuck, and release of seismic waves:

Impact on People & Places

Describe how shaking collapses structures, ruins highways, and displaces thousands of families:

Secondary Hazards (Results of Shaking)

What else happens (broken gas pipeline fires, landslides, river blockage, broken water systems)?

Staying Safe

Seismometer monitoring, Drop Cover Hold, and engineering tricks:

Interesting Facts

The Ring of Fire or strange pre-shaking animal behaviors:

Step 2: Pre-Write Drafting Phase

EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH PRE-WRITE

1. Effects on People & Places (How Communities are Altered)

Describe how powerful tremors collapse homes, break bridges, and displace citizens:

2. What Happens as a Result (Secondary Disasters & Consequences)

Detail what other crises happen after the ground shakes (gas fires, mud landslides blocking valleys):

3. How to Stay Safe during the Event & Interesting Facts

Outline the survival plan (Drop Cover Hold on) and weave in a fascinating fact:

Remember to write in clear, complete 5th grade sentences.

Step 3: Support Writing Scaffolds & QA

EARTHQUAKE WRITING SUPPORT

Sentence Starters for Expert Researchers

How earthquakes affect people and places:

• "When a powerful earthquake shakes a city, the physical buildings..."
• "Families experiencing severe ground tremors can lose access to..."
• "Earthquakes cause instant geological changes to places by..."

What can happen as a result (consequences):

• "As a direct result of ground shaking, secondary disasters like..."
• "Underground gas lines can break during earthquakes, which can lead to..."
• "When unstable mountain dirt gets shaken violently, it triggers..."

Staying safe and interesting facts:

• "To stay safe during active earth shaking, a person must..."
• "An interesting fact about earthquakes is that most happen around..."
• "Engineers help protect people from collapse hazards by designing..."

Student Research Checklist Rubric

Class Period: ______________

Volcanic Science & Magma Pressures

Explain mantle heat, magma chambers pushing upward, and crust vents erupting lava:

Impact on People & Places

Describe how pyroclastic flows and thick ash layers destroy cities, farmland, and displace residents:

Secondary Hazards (Results of Eruptions)

What else happens (lahar mudflows mixing with snow/rain, massive sun-blocking atmospheric ash)?

Staying Safe

Gas sensors, tremor tracking, evacuation lines, and ash masks:

Interesting Facts

Floating pumice rocks or Ring of Fire locations:

Step 2: Pre-Write Drafting Phase

VOLCANO RESEARCH PRE-WRITE

1. Effects on People & Places (How Communities are Altered)

Describe how pyroclastic gas flows and ash blockages damage housing and farmlands:

2. What Happens as a Result (Secondary Disasters & Consequences)

Detail other hazards triggered (concrete-like lahar mudflows downstream, sun-blocking air ash):

3. How to Stay Safe during the Event & Interesting Facts

Outline safe responses (evacuation borders, sealing windows) and include a cool volcanic fact:

Remember to write in clear, complete 5th grade sentences.

Step 3: Support Writing Scaffolds & QA

VOLCANO WRITING SUPPORT

Sentence Starters for Expert Researchers

How volcanoes affect people and places:

• "When a volcano erupts, the surrounding geographic landscape is..."
• "People living in neighboring towns are forced to flee because..."
• "Volcanic ash damages human communities by collapsing roofs and..."

What can happen as a result (consequences):

• "As a result of volcanic ash mixing with water or snow, dangerous..."
• "When hot volcanic gases build up, a secondary hazard like..."
• "Massive ash clouds rise high into the atmosphere, which causes..."

Staying safe and interesting facts:

• "To stay safe when scientists issue an evacuation warning, residents must..."
• "An interesting fact about volcanoes is that pumice rocks can actually..."
• "We can monitor active magma chambers below the Earth's crust by using..."

Student Research Checklist Rubric