Chapter Graphic : Natural Disasters
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  Level: Year 4 and year 8
Approach: One to one
Focus: Recognising earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and explaining the likely causes.
2.2MB
Resources: Video showing earthquake and volcanic eruption.
Download the videoclip 2.4MB (requires QuickTime plug-in)

Questions / instructions:
The news on TV often shows natural disasters that have happened around the world. We're going to watch a video that shows some natural disasters then I will ask you some questions.
Show video part 1.
     
% responses
y4
y8
earthquake
89
100
1. What name do we give to an event like this?
If student doesn't know, tell them it is an earthquake.
a
a
2. Try to tell me what might have caused this to happen.
    Prompt: What causes an earthquake to happen?
Tectonic plate movement, pressure build up, eventual sudden movement to release pressure
a
a
good understanding: using technical terms
8
26
no technical terms
10
19
vague notion of earth movement
20
20
technical terms, but weak understanding
3
7
Show video part 2.
a
a
 
 
3. What name do we give to something like this?
volcanic eruption or eruption
46
61
volcano
49
47
If student doesn't know, tell them it is a volcano erupting.
a
a
4. Try to explain to me what might have caused this to happen?
    Prompt: What causes a volcano to happen?
Magma pressure build-up, plus earth/plate movement creating pathway for escape.
a
a
good understanding of both aspects
1
6
good understanding of one aspect or vague understanding of both
15
32
vague understanding of one aspect
42
33
Commentary:
Most year 4 and year 8 students identified the phenomena successfully. Year 8 students were more successful than year 4 students in explaining the phenomena, but less than half had a reasonably good understanding.
 
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