Understanding History through Primary Documents: Hurricanes

Objectives:

• Students view and compare primary source documents about hurricane experiences. 
• Students gain knowledge about hurricanes and weather safety.
• Students discuss the importance of weather forecasting.
• Students complete an informational writing task.

Activity 1: Part 1

Hurricanes: past and present
Picture 1

Students view a satellite image of Hurricane Ernesto that happened in 2006.  Do not tell the children what the picture represents. Possible questions for you to ask the students: 

• What is this picture? 
• What does this picture tell us?
• How was this picture taken? 
• What is the white in the picture?
• What part of the world is shown?

image from http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/history/Ernesto.jpg
Hurricane Ernesto 2006

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Picture 2

Show the students this picture.  Question prompts include:

• What do you see in this photograph?
• What do you think happened?
• Why did this happen?
• Why do you think there is no color in the photo?
• When do you think this took place?

image from http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/images/galveston1.jpg
The Galveston Hurricane of  1900

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Explain what both photographs represent to the children.  Discuss what a hurricane is and how the weathermen and meteorologists keep us informed of potential storms and danger. Make a group list of ways we stay safe during thunderstorms and hurricanes.  Ask the children how we know when a severe storm is approaching.

Tell the children they will be listening to two people's personal stories about a hurricane experience. One story is from over 100 years ago and the other story is from just a few years back.


Read the document The Galveston Hurricane of 1900  to the children while it is displayed on a smart board. You may wish to leave out some of the details that may scare kindergarten students. 


Read the document Hurricane Katrina. 

Activity 1: Part 2
Make a compare and contrast graphic organizer about the two storm accounts. Talk about how these documents are true stories from a person who experienced these storms. Discuss the importance of the National Weather Service and Weather News Reports.  Brainstorm how today’s technology helps keep us safe during severe storms.

Have your students write a News Report in order to create their own primary source document.  Their report should consist of a personal experience during a thunderstorm and what actions they took to stay safe.  Complete Be a News Reporter.  Adult assistance may be needed. When all students' work is complete, create a digital book of their work or print each child’s page to make a book for the classroom library.

Activity 2
Map Reading Lesson:

Objectives:

• Students learn cardinal directions.
• Students understand a map grid.
• Students use map skills to find places in a town.
• Students use technology to see weather conditions throughout the globe.
• Students locate places on google earth. 
• Students use computer skills to drive a vehicle on a 3D map.

Activity: Show students a map of their neighborhood.  Teach cardinal directions through a game of "Simon Sez".  Students will play a computer game Cardinal Directions to practice their new skill. Now demonstrate the computer game Use a Map Grid.  Have the students practice on their own. Demonstrate the next computer game called Around the Town and have the students try it on their own. Go to Google Earth and download the latest version if you do not have it.  Click on layers and make sure weather and it’s folders contents are checked off.  Type in your school's location and demonstrate how to find your local weather conditions.  Type in different locations of choice to see their current weather conditions.  In my class I will be locating the schools that we communicate with through epals so we can compare their weather conditions to ours. For fun:  Allow the students to use the google application: Monster Milktruck.  They can drive this truck through any region of their choice.  Driving skills are not required since the truck will go through the 3D buildings, climb mountains, and drive under or over water bodies.  The students adore this activity and it gives them a concrete sense of direction.