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
National Standards
National Standards
NGSS-K-ESS3-2: Ask questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather.
NGSS-K-ESS3-3: Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
NGSS-2-ESS1-1: Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly.
NGSS-2-ESS2-1: Compare multiple solutions to slow or prevent wind or water from changing the shape of the land.
NGSS-3-ESS1-1: Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
NGSS-3-ESS3-1: Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.5.RI.3 -- Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.5.RI.6 -- Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent..
National Geography Standard 3: How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places and environments on Earth's surface.
National Geography Standard 18: How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.
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.
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.
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.
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.3.3.3: 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