Preparing for the Worst: Natural Disasters

Explain what a natural disaster is and why it is important to know if a natural disaster is imminent.

Unforgettable Natural Disasters pp. 3–9

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.5RI.4.7

Explain where and how volcanoes occur using the words "plates," "magma," and "erupt."

Unforgettable Natural Disasters pp. 14–21
Sequence of Events Graphic Organizer

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.5RI.4.7

Language

Recognize and use verbs and simple verb tenses correctly when speaking or writing.

3 Posters with Headings - Past, Present, Future
Verb Tense Scavenger Hunt (G4, U2, L3)

Standards

L.4.1.b

Explain what happened when Mount St. Helens erupted and the destruction it caused.

Volcanoes pp. 1–13

Standards

L.4.1.bRI.4.3RI.4.5RI.4.7

Describe what makes Hawaiian volcanoes unique.

Volcanoes pp. 14–25
Sample Response (G4, U2, L5)

Standards

L.4.1.bRI.4.3RI.4.5RI.4.7

Describe the four different types of volcanoes.

Volcanoes pp. 26–32
Editing Checklist 1 (G4, U2)

Standards

L.4.1.bRI.4.3RI.4.5RI.4.7

Overview

Write two paragraphs that describe the causes and effects of volcanic eruptions.

Volcanoes
Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Two Paragraph Outline

Day 1 - Planning

Use details from a text to support a main idea.

Volcanoes pp. 26–32
Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Two Paragraph Outline

Standards

W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.4

Day 2 - Drafting

Use details from a text to support a main idea.

Volcanoes pp. 26–32
Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Two Paragraph Outline

Standards

W.4.2.aW.4.2.b

Explain where and why earthquakes occur.

Unforgettable Natural Disasters pp. 22–29

Standards

L.4.1.bRI.4.3RI.4.5RI.4.7

Explain why a person living in Boston is significantly less likely to experience an earthquake than a person in California.

Earthquakes pp. 1–17

Standards

L.4.1.bRI.4.3RI.4.5

Describe the tools scientists use to measure earthquakes and why one form of measurement is not enough for measuring earthquakes.

Earthquakes pp. 18–31
FEMA Earthquakes Fact Sheet
Verb Tense Cards (G4, U2, L10)

Standards

L.4.1.bRI.4.3RI.4.5RI.4.7

Write a paragraph that describes the causes of earthquakes.

Earthquakes
Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Single Paragraph Outline

Standards

W.4.1.aW.4.1.b

Overview

Write a short narrative about a young person dealing with a natural disaster.

Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Single Point Narrative Writing Rubric (G4, U2, L12)
Narrative Writing Rubric (G4)
Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer
Temporal Words and Phrases Mentor Text (G4, U2, L12)

Day 1 - Brainstorming

Brainstorm ideas for a story by identifying the setting, character, and conflict.

Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer

Standards

W.4.3W.4.3.aW.4.5W.4.8

Day 2 - Drafting

Orient the reader at the start of a story by including specific setting details.

Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Single Point Narrative Writing Rubric (G4, U2, L12)
Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer

Standards

W.4.3W.4.3.aW.4.5

Day 3 - Drafting

Show a narrator's thoughts and feelings through dialogue and description.

Earthquakes
Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Volcanoes
Single Point Narrative Writing Rubric (G4, U2, L12)
Narrative Brainstorming Graphic Organizer

Standards

W.4.3W.4.3.aW.4.3.bW.4.3.cW.4.5

Day 4 - Revising

Transitional words and phrases are used to show the sequence of events in a story.

Single Point Narrative Writing Rubric (G4, U2, L12)
Editing Checklist 1 (G4, U2)
Temporal Words and Phrases Mentor Text (G4, U2, L12)

Standards

L.4.1.bW.4.3W.4.3.aW.4.3.bW.4.3.cW.4.5

Explain the type of damage and destruction caused by flooding.

Unforgettable Natural Disasters pp. 30–41
Editing Checklist 1 (G4, U2)

Standards

L.4.1.bRI.4.3RI.4.5RI.4.7

Describe where and how hurricanes occur.

Hurricanes pp. 1–13
Editing Checklist 1 (G4, U2)

Standards

L.4.1.bL.4.1.cRI.4.3RI.4.5

Describe the destruction caused by each category of hurricane.

Hurricanes pp. 14–23
Editing Checklist 1 (G4, U2)

Standards

L.4.1.bL.4.1.cRI.4.3RI.4.5

Explain how to know when a hurricane is coming and what you should do if you are in the path of a hurricane.

Hurricanes pp. 24–32
Editing Checklist 1 (G4, U2)
FEMA Hurricanes Fact Sheet

Standards

L.4.1.bL.4.1.cRI.4.3RI.4.5

Language

Form and use the progressive verb tenses.

Progressive Verb Tense Handout (G4, U2, L17)

Standards

L.4.1.b

Write a paragraph that describes how to reduce the risk of hurricanes.

Hurricanes
Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Single Paragraph Outline
Single Paragraph Outline Sample Response (G4, U2, L18)

Standards

W.4.1.aW.4.1.b

Explain what happened during the Yellowstone fires of 1988 and the impact the fires had on the park.

Wildfires pp. 1–17

Standards

L.4.1.bL.4.1.cRI.4.3RI.4.5

Analyze why wildfires are neither good nor bad.

Wildfires — p. 18–end

Standards

L.4.1.bRI.4.3

Write a paragraph that describes the effects of wildfires.

Wildfires
Editing Checklist 2 (G4, U2)
Single Paragraph Outline

Standards

L.4.1.bW.4.1.aW.4.1.b

Explain other types of natural disasters and what to do to prepare for or prevent them.

Unforgettable Natural Disasters pp. 42–57
Editing Checklist 2 (G4, U2)
Winter Cold and Extreme Storms Facts
Droughts Facts
Extreme Heat Facts

Standards

L.4.1.bL.4.1.cRI.4.3

Assessment

Gauge student understanding of unit content and skills with one of Fishtank's unit assessments.

Overview

Research and report on a recent natural disaster.

Unforgettable Natural Disasters
Hurricanes
Wildfires
Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Informational Writing Rubric (G4)
Two Paragraph Outline
Research Brainstorming Template (G4, U2, L24)
Research Materials — Various research resources, depending on the natural disaster

Day 1 - Brainstorming

Generate questions that are broad, not boring, about a chosen topic.

Research Brainstorming Template (G4, U2, L24)

Standards

W.4.7

Day 2 - Researching

Take notes and categorize relevant information from print and digital sources.

Research Brainstorming Template (G4, U2, L24)
Research Materials — Various research resources, depending on the natural disaster

Standards

W.4.7W.4.8

Day 3 - Planning

Generate a strong topic sentence for each paragraph by using the notes to determine the main idea of each paragraph.

Single Point Research Rubric (G4, U2, L24)
Two Paragraph Outline — students may need more than one copy if they decide to draft more than two paragraphs
Research Brainstorming Template (G4, U2, L24) — completed previous day

Standards

W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.2.eW.4.7

Day 4 - Drafting

Include facts and details to develop a topic.