Format
1. Program begins with introduction to Rocky Mountain National Park.
2. Ranger introduces different natural hazards with a riddle guessing game.
3. Students become meteorologists to study historic flood events in Rocky to learn how predict future floods.
4. Students use models to understand how different weather events and hazards can cause floods.
5. Students apply their knowledge to new scenarios and predict whether a flood will occur or not.
6. The group discusses mitigation strategies to prevent future floods.
7. 5 to 10 minutes is left at the end for questions and answers.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
1. Name a variety of causes and effects of floods.
2. Take on the role of meteorologists and use their knowledge from the program to make predictions of future flooding.
3. Discuss mitigation strategies for flooding.
Standards Alignment
State Standards
Colorado Academic Standards:
Science:
SC.2.3.1: Some events on Earth occur quickly; others can occur very slowly
SC. 2.3.2: Wind and water can change the shape of the land; models can show the shape and these changes to the land.
SC. 3.3.2: A variety of weather hazards result from natural process; humans cannot eliminate weather-related hazards but can reduce their impacts.
SC. 4.3.5: A variety of weather hazards result from natural process; humans cannot eliminate weather-related hazards but can reduce their impacts.
Social Studies:
SS.3.1.2: Identify how people in the past influence the development and interaction of different communities or regions
SS.3.2.1: Use geographic tools to develop spatial thinking skills
SS.3.2.2: Define the concept of region through an examination of similarities and differences in places and communities
Reading, Writing, and Communicating:
RW.2.1.1: Engage in dialogue and learn new information through active listening
RW.2.1.2: Deliver presentations while maintaining focus on topic and be prepared to discuss
RW.2.3.2: Write informative/explanatory texts organized around main ideas which are supported by relevant details, facts, and definitions.
RW.2.3.3: Write real or imagined narratives that describe events in sequence and provide a sense of closure
RW.2.4.1: Participate in shared research and inquiry, gathering information from a variety of resources to answer questions
RW.3.1.1: Participate cooperatively in group activities.
RW.3.3.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons
RW.3.3.2: Write informative/explanatory texts developed with facts, definitions, and details, ending with a related concluding statement
RW.3.3.3: Write real or imagined narratives that use descriptive details, have a clear sequence of events, and provide closure
RW.3.4.1: Gather, interpret, and communicate information discovered during short research projects.
RW.4.1.2: Create a plan to effectively present information both informally and formally.
RW.4.3.3: Write engaging, real or imagined narratives using descriptive details and dialogue to convey a sequence of related events
RW.4.4.1: Use a variety of resources to build and communicate knowledge related to open-ended research questions