Did You Feel the Earth Move?

While the earth isn’t really alive, it is certainly dynamic. And it can be a moving experience. The following activities focus on geologic disasters: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, sinkholes, avalanches and landslides. We can’t prevent them, but we can be prepared for them.

CONNECT:

•  Learn lots of facts and have fun at from the U.S. Geological Survey: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/
• Stromboli is not a pasta dish; it’s an active volcano in the Mediterranean. Stroll through Stromboli at http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/volcano/index-en.html
• Can yelling cause an avalanche? Get the facts by watching Avalanches 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcr1Sl-T9S0
• What’s a sinkhole, and how does it happen? Watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqKuSKCO6o8

CREATE:

• Make a homemade volcano following the directions at https://www.learning4kids.net/2012/04/11/how-to-make-a-homemade-volcano/
•  Ever think of lava as cake batter? To understand some of the geological processes and the structures that form as lava flows across planetary landscapes, you can use cake batter as an analog for lava, at http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/CakeLava.html
• Use a computer to simulate an earthquake at http://qcnexplorer.org/
•  Create a model of an avalanche; to see how they work, go to https://sciencing.com/create-model-avalanche-4866747.html

CARE:

• Did you feel the earth move? The government collects information from people who felt an earthquake and creates maps that show what people experienced and the extent of damage.  Report local earthquakes at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/dyfi/
• Practice earthquake safety by following the tips at http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-safety-earthquake.htm
• Landslides can be disastrous. What can prevent landslides? Watch the causes and interventions at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCxvbosa4fU
• You never know when a disaster might come, so be prepared by building a family disaster kit: https://www.ready.gov/kids/build-a-kit

CAREERS:

The earth can provide a solid foundation for a great career! Be a mover and shaker by pursuing careers such as a geophysicist, meteorologist, and disaster relief expert.

https://content.wisestep.com/jobs-created-by-natural-disasters-calamities/

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/become.php

http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2005/08/careers-science-disasters

https://www.workitdaily.com/career-paths-disaster-management/

https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/disaster-management-specialist

A Flood of Information

Natural disasters, such as floods, show the power of nature. So flood your mind with these interesting facts and activities.

CONNECT:

• How disastrous can a flood be? See these pictures of the worst floods in U.S. history: https://www.bustle.com/articles/85907-the-8-worst-floods-in-us-history-show-how-devastating-extreme-weather-can-be
• Lots of people know the story of Noah and the flood, but do you know that there are flood stories from the Ivory Coast, Figi, Alaska and other places around the world? Read some of them at http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flood-myths.html
• There’s a famous legend about a little Dutch boy who plugged up a hole in a dike to save Holland from flooding. Find out the truth at http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-the-little-dutch-boy-who-saved-holland/
• What’s a levee, and how do they stop floods? Watch scientists discuss these temporary dikes at http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/levee/

CREATE:

• Watch this simulation of a flood to see a behind-the-scenes look at how a flood is initiated from rainfall!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89O7cx6mR_Y
• Different parts of the United States are more flood-prone. Click on this interactive map to see flood-risk areas: http://water.weather.gov/ahps/long_range.php
• Experiment with a flood map. Change the sea level and see what effects it has on different countries:  http://flood.firetree.net/
• Dams help stave off floods. Build your own mini-dam by following the instructions at http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/buildadam.html

CARE:

• What damage can a raindrop do? With a LOT of other raindrops, rain can be dangerous. A mere 2 feet of water can float a large vehicle or even a bus; This is why you should never drive through flooded roads. Watch the impact at https://weather.com/news/weather/video/facts-about-flooding
• How do you prepare for a flood, especially a flash flood? Follow the tips at http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/
• Learn how to keep your family safe during a flood: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/flood
• What happens AFTER a flood? Here’s an activity book about being safe after a flood: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disasters/documents/childrensmagazinebesafeflood.pdf

 CAREERS:

Want to manage disasters? There will always be jobs to prepare for and deal with natural disasters. Open the career floodgates now!

https://www.workitdaily.com/career-paths-disaster-management/

http://www.environmentalscience.org/career/disaster-management-specialist

http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2005/08/careers-science-disasters

http://www.careeraddict.com/5-jobs-created-by-natural-disasters

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/articles/working-in-disaster-relief-and-humanitarian-aid.shtml

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