science experiments natural disasters

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Natural Disaster Science Activities for Kids

Recently, we have been investigating some of Earth’s most destructive forces by exploring natural disaster science activities! No matter where you live, you have probably had to brace or prepare for a natural disaster in your lifetime. For instance, because we live in California, earthquakes are always going to be at the forefront of our news cycle. Those of you on the East Coast know that hurricanes are a possibility every year. Teaching children about how and why these disasters occur is very important. We find that discussing ways to prepare and stay safe takes some of the fear out of these situations.

One way to introduce natural disasters to your science curriculum is to give your students the opportunity to observe these forces with actual hands on science experiments. They get to see science in action instead of just reading about it! The four activities we are about to share with you can all be easily done in both the home and classroom setting. Best of all, you probably have most of the materials already! They can be done before or after introducing natural disasters to your little scientists.

Natural Disaster Science Activities

1. tornado in a jar.

What You Need:

• clear plastic or glass jar
• food coloring
• glitter, sequins , or tiny pieces of foil (to act as “debris” or surface objects)

Directions:

First, fill a clear jar with water. Then, add 1-2 drops of dish soap. The dish soap is important since it makes the funnel shape easier to see. After that, add 3-4 drops of food coloring. We used blue food coloring but any color is fine! Now comes the fun part…hold the jar upright and shake it in a rotating, circular motion. Your students will see a mini “tornado” forming. Finish the observation by having students add some glitter, sequins or tiny pieces of foil in the jar. Close the jar, have them shake it again in a rotating, circular motion and watch as the “tornado” lifts the “debris” off the ground!

2. Hurricane in a Bowl

• clear, large bowl

Start this activity by filling a clear, large bowl 3/4 full of water. Then, use a spoon to stir the water in a circular motion until it is spinning. Spin the water counterclockwise to mimic the rotation of the winds in the Northern Hemisphere or clockwise to mimic the rotation of the winds in the Southern Hemisphere. Finally, quickly add 2-3 drops of food coloring to the center of the bowl. You will see a hurricane shape start to form. Watch as the “hurricane” starts out strong and slowly starts to dissipate as it looses energy over time!

3. Erupting Volcano

• homemade or store-bought play dough or molding clay
• baking soda
• red food coloring
• small measuring cup

Begin by building and shaping a volcano on a baking pan using modeling clay or dough. The baking pan is important because it will catch the “lava” to prevent spills and make clean up easier. Next, make an indentation at the top of the volcano to create the opening “vent”. Then, put one teaspoon of baking soda into the top of the volcano “vent”. In a measuring cup, mix about a ¼ cup of vinegar with 2-3 drops of red food coloring. Slowly pour the vinegar mix into the baking soda and watch the “lava” come oozing out of the vent!

4. Earthquake Shake Table

• 2 sheets of thick cardboard
• 2 large rubber bands (elastic)
• 4 tennis balls (or similar sized balls)
• construction materials such as building bricks, play dough, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, wooden blocks

This is a really fun STEM challenge for your little engineers! Begin by layering two cardboard pieces on top of each other and place rubber bands around them. Then, slide the tennis balls between the cardboard pieces near each of the four corners. Next, have your students brainstorm model ideas for a secure design. Once they have a design in mind, use the desired construction materials to create a building. Our kids love using building bricks so of course they chose that! Place the building on top of the shake table. Finally, test the earthquake safeness by holding the bottom of the shake table and pulling & releasing one corner on the top. Repeat this step a few times using different amounts of force. You will notice how the building bounces around as you pull and release a few times. Did your building withstand the shaking?

Looking for more natural disaster science activities?

If you want your students to dig deeper into the wonders of natural disasters and how they shape our amazing Earth, check out our mega bundle that covers earthquakes , hurricanes , volcanoes and tornadoes .

While you’re here, discover more Earth Science & Geography freebies & ideas that your students will LOVE. Enjoy!

FREE Treasure Hunt Map Skills & Landforms Activity

Google Earth™ Field Trip

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8 Engaging Natural Disasters Activities

• Planning , Science

Let’s get this out of the way: natural disasters are not explicitly required within the Next Generation Science Standards. Regardless, they are still extremely important to teach in your upper elementary science classroom!

Natural disasters as a unit often align with other standards, such as plate tectonics and weather, and it also provides a plethora of opportunities to develop a stronger scientific background, develop critical thinking skills, and, of course, providing students with ways to mitigate and respond to natural disasters. This is important everywhere, too, not just in hurricane-prone areas; every location on Earth is susceptible to some kind of natural disaster, whether tornado or flood or drought!

Besides, natural disasters are simply engaging by design. They’re action-packed and easy to grab student attention with. And, as an added bonus, natural disasters lend themselves well to plenty of hands-on activities that are bound to keep student interest high.

Now, we have eight natural disasters to get through: earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, droughts, and landslides. That’s quite a list, so let’s not waste any time!

8 Activities for Teaching Natural Disasters

Earthquakes: shake table experiment.

Depending on the order you teach your science curriculum, your kiddos may have already encountered earthquakes and all their power; after all, earthquakes are often tied into the Earth science unit on plate tectonics. I, myself, cover earthquakes (and volcanoes!) in my Catch Shifty Crust science center rotations—you can find more information in this blog post ! 

Regardless, earthquakes are a force worth repeating in your unit on natural disasters. Earthquakes are defined as a “sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the Earth’s crust or volcanic action.” Let’s see… How many scary words is that? Violent shaking, great destruction, volcanic action… Not to mention movements within Earth’s crust. It’s clear from the get-go that earthquakes are a very serious matter!

So how can you help your upper elementary science students see just how important it is to be prepared for earthquakes, especially if you live in an area prone to these natural disasters? Well… It’s time to shake some cities! 

Oh, no, not literally. Let’s not cause any destruction!

For this activity, students can work in groups or partners to conduct a “shake table” experiment, similar to the earthquake simulation I outlined in this blog post . Differently from that activity, however, every group should be provided with just one small foil pan filled with soil, as well as a variety of craft materials, such as craft sticks, clay, Styrofoam blocks, Legos, or even marshmallows!

To get things shaking, students will create “structures” out of their craft materials and plant them in the soil, one at a time. Then, students should simulate earthquakes of varying magnitudes by (SAFELY) shaking their desks. It’s worth noting that you may want to emphasize that part… You don’t want dirt and debris flying everywhere, no matter how realistic that would be for a real-world earthquake!

Students should observe how different structures respond to the shaking. How well does a craft stick house stand up to the shaking? What about the Legos? These observations should lead into a discussion on the degrees of severity of earthquakes (the Richter scale) as well as a brainstorming session on earthquake-resistant designs in the real world. 

Volcanoes: The Classic Model Volcano

If you’ve touched on earthquakes in the classroom already, then there’s no doubt that volcanoes have come up, too; after all, these two natural disasters tend to go hand-in-hand… Or should I say, plate-in-plate? Or plate- on -plate? Maybe? No? 

Well, anyway, volcanoes are often taught right alongside earthquakes, usually when focusing on the cause and effect of plate tectonics. Volcanoes are practically the poster child of Earth’s changing surface—when the Earth’s crust moves around, volcanoes start springing up all over!

Still, volcanoes are not something to be taken lightly. Volcanoes are natural disasters for a reason. They erupt with incredible force straight out of Earth’s mantle! As defined by Oxford Languages, volcanoes are “a mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are being or have been erupted from the Earth’s crust.” 

Okay, so volcanoes are important. But how can you help your kiddos see that? Well, you could always play it safe with my Volcanoes Science Investigation Booklet , but that’s definitely not as fun as, say, making an entire volcano !

Yep, that’s right. We’re pulling out the tried-and-true volcano experiment. If it isn’t broken, then don’t fix it, right? It’s time for creating a model volcano! 

This activity is one that I recommend doing yourself and allowing students to observe. While the ingredients in a model volcano are not harmful by any means, things can get messy. Too many volcanoes erupting at once is NOT ideal, even if the volcanoes are small and harmless!

To get started, you’ll need a plastic bottle (like an empty 2 liter soda bottle) or even clay shaped into a mountain if you want to go all-in. It’s also a good idea to work on top of a baking sheet or some other container that will catch all the “magma.”

Use a funnel to fill the bottle about two-thirds of the way with warm water and a few drops of red food coloring. Then, add several (approximately five) drops of dish soap and two tablespoons of baking soda to the water. 

Before you add the vinegar, make sure you’re wearing eye protection and your kiddos are standing back. Again, these ingredients are harmless, but no one wants to be sprayed, and you definitely don’t want your face in the line of fire! 

Once you’re ready, remove the funnel and add two cups of white vinegar to your baking soda mixture. The learning will be immediate and explosive! 

After the mini eruption, discuss what happened with your students. Make sure to explain that while this “volcano” erupted due to a chemical reaction, real volcanoes erupt as a result of pressure building up underneath Earth’s crust. In addition, hot lava exploding is much more dangerous than vinegar and baking soda.

Hurricanes: DIY Hurricane Simulator

Depending on how in-depth your weather unit goes, you may have touched on hurricanes already. For instance, my Weather Detectives Vocabulary Game covers hurricanes, but that may not always be the case. Regardless, hurricanes are definitely something to discuss during natural disasters! 

Hurricanes have a relatively simple definition: “a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone.” Still, don’t let the short description fool you; hurricanes are natural disasters, and they come bearing plenty more destruction than normal winds would cause. 

To help students comprehend how these natural disasters are formed, you’ll guide them through a DIY hurricane simulator. This is another activity that I feel is best done by you personally, just because it involves a decent amount of water, although you can always give students a turn with the model you end up creating! 

For this simulation, fill a large, clear container with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring to represent the ocean, reminding students that hurricanes are oceanic events. If possible, I recommend using a wide circular container, like a deep mixing bowl.

Once you have your “ocean,” make a show out of trying to blow the water. Surely the water will move as you blow on it, but it won’t be nearly strong enough to cause the water to spin rapidly. Invite students up to try to blow the water into a strong swirling cycle!

Eventually, it will become clear that these “normal winds” won’t be causing any natural disasters. To get your hurricane going, you’ll have to make even stronger winds… Time to pull out the hair dryer! 

No, seriously. Use a hair dryer to blow air over the surface of the water, aiming at one side of the container to cause the water to spin in swirling patterns similar to a hurricane. I would caution against allowing students to use the hair dryer, as there’s a good chance of water flying everywhere, but you’re welcome to give it a go if your kiddos are responsible enough!

Regardless, once your students are satisfied with this model, convene to discuss the formation and characteristics of hurricanes while observing the simulated storm. To really drive home the point of hurricanes being natural disasters, give kiddos the raw numbers in terms of wind speed. Depending on your hair dryer, you’re likely looking at about 22 MPH; meanwhile, according to the National Hurricane Center , hurricanes start at 74 MPH for Category 1. The strongest hurricanes fall under Category 5, which start at a whopping 157 MPH. To really blow their minds (no pun intended), tell them about Hurricane Patricia, whose sustained wind speeds got up to an incredible 215 MPH!

Oh, and as a side note, the NHC page linked above has a super cool graphic of what various wind speeds look like. I definitely recommend showing that one to your kiddos! It’s a great way to visualize the impact of natural disasters.

Tornadoes: Tornado in a Jar

Tornadoes are relatively common as far as natural disasters go, especially here in the Midwest. They’re like hurricanes, but with much less water being tossed about. Of course, less water means less weight, which means tornado winds are often even stronger and faster than hurricanes. Still, tornadoes generally have shorter lifespans and have a smaller radius than hurricanes.

But natural disasters aren’t a competition! Both hurricanes and tornadoes can be extremely dangerous in their own ways. Tornadoes are often accompanied by thunderstorms, too, or other severe weather such as hail, as noted in the definition: “a mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system.”

Okay, scary, sure, but… Kind of hard to visualize! Well, maybe not difficult for those of us who’ve seen a few tornadoes in our time, but it may be challenging for your students. To fully grasp natural disasters, help your kiddos bring these concepts to a more concrete level by showing them a tornado… Safely, of course!

To make a tornado, we’re going to use another classic activity: tornado in a jar. To start, fill a clear jar or soda bottle (the 2 liter bottles work best) and add a few drops of dish soap and glitter to represent the debris that often gets swept up by a tornado. Secure the lid tightly, then swirl the jar or bottle in a circular rotation to create a vortex. 

This activity is relatively simple, so it’s easy enough for every student to create their own personal tornado to observe. Of course, a simple activity means there’s more time for discussion! 

Remind students that, while hurricanes form above the ocean and thus pull in a lot of moisture, tornadoes are generally much drier, though they’re often partnered up with a bit of rain. Ask students to brainstorm other differences and similarities between these two natural disasters, then go over appropriate safety measures.

Floods: Use a Floodplain Model

I’m starting to think natural disasters are all either wind, water, or a combination of both! Oh, and earth itself, too… And I guess fire sometimes… 

I know, I’m making huge scientific discoveries over here.

Nonetheless, it’s time to talk about floods! These natural disasters may seem a bit more reserved than the explosive power of a volcano or the high-powered winds of a tornado, but floods are natural disasters in their own right. A flood is “an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal confines, especially over what is normally dry land.” Now, what’s so special about dry land?

Well, for starters, that’s usually where we build our cities! 

But I don’t need to lecture you about the dangers of floods. That’s your job! Let’s check out how you can demonstrate floods to your students.

To explore floods, have students work in partners to create miniature floodplains. Each set of students will need a shallow container, like a rectangular tin foil pan, filled with sand or soil. Then, students will form a “river” by creating a channel lengthwise through their soil and pouring water (carefully) into it. The water should not overflow!

Once their river is stable, have students plant small houses (like Monopoly houses) and other structures they can think of along the banks of the “river.” Once everything is set up, have students simulate heavy rainfall by pouring water “upstream.” 

How does the floodplain respond? What happens to the structures on the bank of the river? Where does all the excess water go? Even if the houses aren’t immediately washed away by the flood, students should notice that the soil “foundation” of the houses is now soggy and crumbly. In the real world, this soil would not hold up a house very well at all!

Wildfires: Fire Triangle Demonstration 

Okay, I’ll be real: I do not think you should demonstrate a wildfire in your classroom. I know, bold take, right? Regardless, wildfires are natural disasters, so they’re on the list. 

First, let’s define wildfires: “a large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush.” Yikes! Even for students who live in areas where these natural disasters aren’t common, it’s immediately clear that wildfires are serious.

Because it simply isn’t feasible to demonstrate these natural disasters, let’s go with something much safer for your classroom: a candle! While candles don’t exude anywhere close to the amount of destruction a wildfire does, they still follow the same three tenets of the fire triangle.

For this demonstration, first discuss the components of the fire triangle—heat, fuel, and oxygen—and how they contribute to wildfires. Consider the usual setting of a wildfire; generally, it’s a dry forest, such as those in California. How does the fire triangle fit in? 

Well, heat can come from the general temperature of the area, but a lot of times, the triggering heat in a wildfire comes from an external source like a lightning bolt or even a human cause like an unattended campfire. Then, there’s fuel, which doesn’t just refer to gasoline—fuel can take the form of a flammable liquid, yes, but it also can be anything that catches fire. Usually, this is forest debris like dry leaves and dead wood—note that these materials have to be very dry, such as during a period of drought!

Finally, there’s oxygen. That one is exactly as simple as it sounds; the air around us contains approximately 21% oxygen! 

Wildfires rely on the fire triangle to ignite and continue burning, and so does every other fire, such as the flame on the candle. To demonstrate the fire triangle, use a candle to SAFELY show each component. I recommend using a candle with a matching lid, and you should always have plenty of water on-hand to be on the safe side.

Before lighting it, show the candle to your students. Ask them to point out the three sides of the fire triangle. Oxygen is easy! But where is the heat? It will come from the match. What about the fuel? In this case, the fuel is the flammable wick.

Finally, light the candle. Ask students how they would put out the candle. There are several ways: first, most commonly, you can blow out the candle, but which side of the fire triangle is this? It can be heat, as your rapid rush of wind is usually strong enough to quickly cool down the wick, and it can also be fuel as the combustible wax vapors are blown away from the fire.

You can also put out the candle with a bit of water. This will also cool down the wick, removing the “heat” component, in addition to removing “oxygen.” Water will suffocate the flame, preventing it from accessing the oxygen in the air that it needs to stay alight.

Lastly, you can put the lid on the candle to extinguish the flame. Show students this method and ask them to explain what’s happening! They should come to the conclusion that the flame is using up all the oxygen inside the jar, and because the jar is now sealed, there is no new oxygen coming in. When one side of the fire triangle is taken away, there can be no fire!

Okay, but that’s just a single candle flame. How does that compare to a raging wildfire? That’s a great brainstorming question! Ask students if any of these methods can be applied to these natural disasters. While you can’t necessarily put a lid on a forest to starve it of oxygen, many firefighters use a flame-retardant powder that functions the same way. 

Of course, water is a good strategy, too, but it can be challenging to spray water over an entire forest!

Droughts: Water Conservation Challenge

After wracking my brain to come up with an engaging activity to demonstrate droughts in your classroom, I finally realized: what better way to emulate these natural disasters than by pretending you’re caught in one? Well, safely , I mean. And, besides, Earth Day was just last week, so I figure it’s a great time to explore water conservation regardless!

Now, droughts may be less in-your-face and imminent than other natural disasters, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less serious. Droughts are defined as “a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.” In case you haven’t gone over your biology unit yet, it’s important to note that living things need water , and lots of it!

Droughts often make students think of deserts, but it’s important to be aware of the differences. Desert organisms, like cacti and camels, have specific adaptations that help them survive in a harsh, water-less environment. In other words, they’re MADE for living on very little water!

On the other hand, humans who have built cities in biomes where water is plentiful, and the creatures that live alongside us here, are not adapted to a reduced-water lifestyle. For instance, those of us living in Michigan would be in for a drastic lifestyle change if we suddenly entered into a period of drought.

Droughts are especially detrimental for biomes that we use to raise crops—temperate deciduous forests and grasslands. These biomes are absolutely reliant on their water sources, such as rivers and streams, and would be in shambles if their water simply vanished!

Okay, I’m getting a bit ranty, here. Obviously, droughts are natural disasters, which means they’re dangerous! The best way to demonstrate droughts to your students is by showing them exactly how impactful these natural disasters are.

For this activity, you’ll engage students in a water conservation challenge where they track their water usage at home or at school over a week. Then, discuss the importance of water conservation during droughts and brainstorm ways to reduce water consumption… Then challenge students to actually execute their ideas! 

After another week, compare numbers again to see how much has changed. Was it difficult to use less water? Were they surprised by how much water they ended up using? In what parts of their lives do they take water for granted, like doing laundry?

Obviously, you can’t simulate a real drought in your classroom; that might be against the Geneva convention. Still, there are ways to help your students fully comprehend the impact of these dry natural disasters.

Landslides: Slippery Slope Experiment

Landslides, like all natural disasters can be scary. Thankfully, I’m blessed enough to live somewhere where the hills aren’t too steep, so I’ve never witnessed the true force of these natural disasters! Regardless, landslides are a force to be reckoned with. Landslides are defined as “the sliding down of a mass of earth or rock from a mountain or cliff,” a definition that’s covered in my Earth Changes Task Cards . 

Like other natural disasters, landslides have certain “triggers.” They aren’t random! Before launching into this activity, discuss as a class what the more common causes of landslides are.

Then… It’s activity time! Students will work in groups to create slippery slopes. Each group will need a “slope,” which can be any long flat object. I recommend using plastic, as there will be water involved! A really cheap, useful option are toy race car tracks, like these . 

Every group should also come up with a way to prop their slopes up on one end, such as with textbooks, but they should be careful not to position them in a way where they may get wet from the spray bottle. Oh, did I mention there’s a spray bottle? 😉

Once a gentle incline is created, students should cover the slope with a thin layer of sand, gravel, soil, or rocks. Then, have them place various objects such as toy cars or small houses at different points along the slope to represent real-world structures.

Now, there are a few variables that groups can adjust here. Students can gradually increase the angle of the slope or even introduce “rainfall” with a spray bottle… Just make sure things don’t get too out-of-hand. Though both are natural disasters, this activity is about landslides, not floods!

Students should observe how the materials respond to changes in slope and “rainfall.” Discuss as a class the factors that trigger landslides. What can they determine about the importance of land planning? What could they do to prevent a landslide from occurring? That’s a key question, if you think about it—natural disasters will always happen, so we must do what we can to prevent as much damage as possible.

When it comes to natural disasters, it sometimes feels like there isn’t much we can do. However, by promoting critical thinking, students will find that there are solutions to any problem presented to them.

Once you feel your kiddos have learned all they can about natural disasters, supplement their activities with my Natural Disasters Investigation Booklet . With this resource, students will cut out the name of each described disaster and glue it in its place and can even write in their own facts, making it perfect for checking for understanding. It even comes with reading passages to boot!

Natural disasters may not be explicitly required by the NGSS, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be covered. It’s practically guaranteed that everyone will encounter natural disasters at some point in their lives, so it’s important that students understand how they work as well as proper safety procedures!

Besides, natural disasters can be exciting to learn about with their plethora of hands-on opportunities. If you have a chance to promote engagement and interest in the science classroom, you should always jump on it, right?!

Of course, the activities listed here are by no means exhaustive. What other natural disaster activities do you like to use in your classroom? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to sign up for my email list, too!

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Extreme Weather Activities

Make a volcano.

Students will learn all about volcanoes and chemical reactions! They will build their own, safe and nontoxic, volcano with items from around the house - baking soda and vinegar. 

• From chemistry.about.com
• Added March 2, 2015
• Tags research discovery

Build an Earthquake-Proof Structure

Students will construct a structure out of drinking straws to see if it can withstand an earthquake. Students will learn about the concepts of force and engineering design to accurate…

• From http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/activity-earthquake-proof-structure/
• Added February 12, 2015
• Tags discovery engineering

Make a Cloud!

In this experiment, with the help of an adult, students will learn all about clouds. They will create their own, and learn how and why clouds form. 

• From education.com
• Added February 10, 2015
• Tags discovery

Make an Earthquake!

Students will learn about the different waves generated during an earthquake. This experiment will help them visualize how P waves travel through earthquakes. Adult supervision may be…

• From http://www.kids-earth-science.com/elementary-science-experiment.html

Make a Barometer

Children will learn about atmospheric pressures by creating their own barometer. They will be able to observe how different pressures affect their creations.

• From weatherwizkids.com
• Added November 19, 2014
• Tags wind storms Extreme Weather Tornadoes & Thunderstorms

Seismic Monitor

Ever want to learn more about earthquakes? Go through this activitiy to see the sesimic waves in certain areas around the world!

• From iris.edu
• Added June 10, 2014

Baleen Whale Anatomy: Label Me!

Children can label a Baleen whale! This is great activity to introduce then whale anatomy.

• From enchantedlearning.com
• Added March 1, 2013

The Science Behind Tsunamis: Study the Effect of Water Depth on Wave Velocity

Tsunami activity largely depends on the properties of the ocean. Children can learn about this through this activity!

• From sciencebuddies.org
• Added February 22, 2013

3D Flood Simulation

Watch this simulation of a flood to see a behind-the-scenes look at how a flood is initiated from rainfall!

• From youtube.com
• Added January 10, 2013

Rocks, Minerals & Soils

This short and fun exercise lets kids explore rock and minerals. They can learn some new information!

• From sciencekids.co.nz
• Added November 13, 2012

Blue Sky Experiment

Children can engage in this activity to learn why the sky is blue! This is a good introduction to weater.

• Added November 9, 2012

See a Raindrop

Rain can make floods. This gives children the opportunity to see a raindrop up close! This is a fun and exciting activity.

What is in the Wind

They wind carries things everyday and not just during tornados. Learn about this by doing this fun activity!

Make Lightning in Your Mouth

Children can learn about weather by doing this short activity! All they will need is a mirror and lifesavers! Learn how by following the link!

Weather Station-Building a Psychrometer

A psychrometer measures humidity in the air and the rate of evaporation. Children can learn how to make their own by following the instructions.

• From school.discoveryeducation.com
• Added November 5, 2012

Monster Waves

Children will be able to learn about waves by creating their own model village.

• From eduplace.com
• Added October 30, 2012

Make Fog in a Jar!

Children will learn about fog and its formation through this activity. They can observe their results as they make their own fog.

• From eo.ucar.edu
• Added October 2, 2012

Make Thunder

This experiment will let students create their own thunder! Then they will be able to learn how it occurs in nature. All they will need is a paper lunch bag!

• Added October 1, 2012

Make a Thunderstorm

Children will learn how cold and warm air creates a thunderstorm. All they need is a plastic container, food coloring and ice cubes! The experiment will represent what happens in a re…

Fog can make it hard to see outside. This experiment shows children how fog is created.

Rainfall calculator

Children can calculate the rainfall in their area.

• From lenntech.com
• Added September 28, 2012

Make Your Own Rainbow

Rainbows develop when light hit raindrops in the sky. Children will be guided in this fun and short activity to replicate this natural process.

• Added September 17, 2012

Rain Gauge Project

This is a great activity to measure rain fall by creating a simple rain gauge. Children will learn about rainfall rates and can even track the progress of rain over time.

Through Wind Map, students can see the altering pattern of wind forces during hurricanes like Isaac, which just hit the United States. This tool is great inorder to view the bigge…

• From hint.fm
• Added August 31, 2012

Is There a Whole Lot of Shaking Going On? Make Your Own Seismograph and Find Out! (Earthquakes)

Seismographs are important tools when it comes to helping scientists measure earthquakes.Children can make their own seismographs and even test them by following these directions. Thi…

• Added January 25, 2012

Make a Tornado Chamber

You can help your students create this awesome tornado chamber using dry ice and an exhaust fan. The article also explains how tornadoes form.

• From usatoday.com

Hurricane Andrew in 3D

  In this project, your students can make 3D glasses and then look at 3D pictures of Hurricane Andrew.

• From miamisci.org

Trap Lightning in a Block

This lightning-in-a-block, displaying a Lichtenberg figure, is similar to what the inside of a thundercloud looks like before lightning strikes. This process is also seen in laser pri…

• From popsci.com

How to Use a Hurricane Tracking Map

In this experiment put together by Scholastic, your students can learn not just about hurricanes, but about latitude, longitude, and reading a map as they track a hurricane. 

• From teacher.scholastic.com

Determine the Strongest and Weakest Points of a Hurricane

In this easy experiment, your students can see for themselves which part of a hurricane is strongest.  All they need is a bowl of water, a paperclip, and a string.

• From projects.juliantrubin.com

Create Evaporation

Your students can learn about evaporation and wind chill in this easy experiment.  All they need is hand sanitizer!

Make Your Own Barometer

In this easy project, students can build their own barometer to measure the changes in the air pressure.  All they need is a small coffee can, plastic wrap, scissors, a straw, and ind…

Wave Height during a Hurricane

In this easy experiment, students can learn about how wind speed and the depth of the water can affect the height of waves during a hurricane.  All they need is a baking dish, a straw…

• From discoveryeducation.com

Hurricane Tracking

Do you want your students to be able to keep track of a current hurricane?  Make their lessons more applicable to everyday life by having them track a current hurricane using one of t…

ABAG Home Contents Safety Quiz

Learn how common household objects can be effected by an earthquake through this fact or fiction activity.Enhance your knowledge in a safe setting.  

• From abag.ca.gov

How Do I Make My Own P and S Waves?

This activity is designed to show participants the difference between the motion of a P wave from a S wave. These waves are a crucial component of earthquakes.

• From geo.mtu.edu

Twister Game

Do the biggest tornadoes mean that they are the most destructive? What do the numbers on the Fujita Scale mean? Students can find the answers to these questions in this game. They can…

• From hyfiles.org

Tornado Chase Game

Students can see what the life of a storm chaser is like in this fun game. They can use instrument pods and film tornadoes in this game, while learning what each instrument does.

• From dsc.discovery.com

Make Lightning

Using everyday items, your class can create "mini lightning." This is a fun, quick classroom activity that teaches kids about lightning and static electricity.

Magic School Bus: The Adventures of Weatherlizard

All aboard on the Magic School Bus! Students will answer Liz the Weatherlizard's questions about thunderstorms, blizzards, and tornadoes. If they get the quetions right, students will…

• From scholastic.com

Experiment with a flood map. Change the sea level and see what effects it has on America!

• From flood.firetree.net

Storm Weather Experiment

Did you know that the stormwater system is a system of underground pipes?  Learn more interesting facts about storm water and the do an experiment to look at the effects of dirty Stor…

• From suzy.co.nz

Stop Disasters!

Play the role of the hero and help save a community from natural disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods!  

• From stopdisastersgame.org

How to Build a Model Illustrating Sea-Floor Spreading and Subduction

Children have the opportunity to work on their own earthquake model to help spur better understanding of earthquakes. They will work to represent the features of plate tectonics, subd…

• From pubs.usgs.gov

How Do I Locate That Earthquake's Epicenter?

This activity shows participants how to find the epicenter of an earthquake!

Beat the Quake

An earthquake is about to hit and you need to make your home safe to live in. Would you know the best way to secure items like bookshelves, TVs and pictures so that they do not harm p…

• From dropcoverholdon.org

Stop Disasters

Planning for natural disasters is a strenuous occupation. Children will learn exactly what goes into fortifying a community from a natural disaster through this game. They will have t…

Listen for Fun

This fun and interactive activity exposes children to the sounds of earthquakes in a safe setting. They will be exposed to different magnitudes of earthquake sounds. This is a great w…

• From earthquake.usgs.gov

Light a Bulb Using a Balloon

Students can create lightning using a balloon and a light bulb. The static charge that is transferred from the balloon to the light bulb simulates the static charge that is transferre…

How far away is that storm?

Do you hear thunder and/or see lightning, but aren't sure if the worst part of the storm has passed? Now you can estimate how close the storm is to you using this technique!

• From wikihow.com

What is in the Rain?

Students will learn that rain is not only composed of water, but other things. If you have a microscope available, they can see what particles are in the rain.

Make it Rain!

Stemming from the fact that when warm moist air meets cold air in the atmosphere to form rain droplets, students can make a homemade miniature rainstorm. They will need hot water, a j…

Make Convection Currents

The process of convection is represented in this simple experiment. Through visual representation, this experiment can be used to explain how thunderstorms form.

Flash Flood Animation

Watch this flash flood animation about pre-Hurricane Katrina!  Learn what sequence of events led to Hurricane Kathrina by watching the animation and reading about each scene.

• From nola.com

Ready Kids? (Activity Book)

Your students can test their knowledge about what to do in case of a hurricane or other weather emergency in this kid-friendly activity book.

• From ready.gov
• Added January 24, 2012

Hurricanes: Quiz Challenge

Your students can take this quiz to test their hurricane knowledge.

Hurricanes: Words to Know

In this fill in the blank puzzle by Scholastic, your students will not only test the knowledge they already have of hurricanes, but add to it.

Hurricane Activities

Your students can test their hurricane knowledge by completing these fun, easy activities.

• From odec.ca

Wild Weather Adventure

In this online board game, you students can learn about all kinds of weather as they adventure all around the world.  That game can be played by 1-4 people. 

• From spaceplace.nasa.gov

Aim a Hurricane

Your students can learn all about the path of a hurricane in this interactive online activity.  As they aim a hurricane using two different constant systems, they can think about how …

• From nhc.noaa.gov

Create-A-Cane: Build Your Own Hurricane!

In this interactive game, kids can build their own hurricane.  As they do so, they’ll learn what kinds of wind conditions, latitude, and sea temperature are favorable for a hurricane …

In this illustrated excerpt from Owlie Skywarn’s Weather Book, your kids can learn all about hurricanes.  After they read about everything from how a hurricane forms to what they shou…

• From nws.noaa.gov

Weather Jokes

Your students will laugh and learn about weather at the same time with these funny jokes.

• Added September 2, 2010

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Earthquake Science Experiments and Investigations

February 16, 2020 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

We’ve got some easy ( and tasty ) earthquake experiments to share today! Did you know the Earth is made up of large pieces of rock called tectonic plates ? Where two tectonic plates meet is called a fault . If two plates rub together at a fault waves of energy ( seismic waves ) come to the surface of the Earth which are felt as an Earthquake.

Earthquakes can be different magnitudes, sometimes they are just a small tremor and other times cause huge amounts of damage to the land above. An earthquake of magnitude 3 would be very small, 6 would cause substantial damage and 9 would have catastrophic effects.

The amount of damage an earthquake causes is measured by the Mercalli Scale, which is a measure of intensity.  This changes depending on the part of the Earthquake being measured. For example damage at the epicentre of an Earthquake would be more than further away from the epicentre.

If an Earthquake happens at the bottom of the sea it can push water upwards creating huge waves called tsunamis .

Earth like a Peach

Imagine the Earth as being like a peach made up of layers. The stone in the middle is the core, while the fleshy part is like the Earth’s mantle which contains magma and the skin is like the crust.

Another way to picture this is to make a model of the Earth like this one we made with playdough.

Good Foundations – Earthquake Experiment

You’ll need:

Chocolate brownie or other foundation

Gummy sweets

Cocktail sticks

Earthquake Experiment Instructions

Make jelly and a brownie or other foundation layer to test in a tray or on a plate. If you don’t want to use food items, play dough, clay etc would all work well too.

Build a tower using the cocktail sticks and jelly sweets. Ours looked like this.

We tested our tower on it’s own and then in jelly, flapjack and brownie by counting the number of shakes needed to make it fall over and recorded our observations.

Images taken from Snackable Science

Earthquake Experiment – Make it fair

The same person shook all our towers, so we could try to make sure the same force was used each time.

We used a tower of the same height and using the same number of sweets/toothpicks each time.

Keep the depth of the foundations the same.

Extension ideas

What happens if you build a taller tower?

What other foundations could you use?

Can you think of a way to strengthen your tower?

Snackable Science

This activity can also be found in my latest book, Snackable Science

Earthquake Facts for Kids

A seismometer is used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake. Earthquakes are measured on the Richter Scale.

Movement of a tectonic plate of just 20cm is enough to set off an earthquake!

Small earthquakes can be felt as a slight tremor, but larger earthquakes can cause severe damage, making buildings collapse, causing landslides, flooding and explosions.  

More Earthquake Science for Kids

Make your own Seismometer – this is super easy and great fun to engineer.

Find out about plate tectonics with an orange!

Scientific American have a brilliant LEGO based earthquake activity too!

Suitable for   – Key Stage 2 – Human and physical geography.

Key Stage 2 – Science

Post contains affiliate links

Last Updated on September 19, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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10 Hands-on Earthquake Activities for Kids

Earthquakes are natural disasters that can cause significant damage to communities and infrastructure. However, they can also be fascinating and teachable moments for kids to learn about the science behind these natural phenomena.

Through hands-on activities, kids can learn about the different types of seismic waves, the properties of different building materials, and the geological features that contribute to the occurrence of earthquakes. They can also explore the different engineering solutions used to protect buildings and communities from earthquake damage, such as base isolation systems and emergency evacuation plans.

Here are some fun options for you to do with your kids or your students.

Build a Shake Table

Building a shake table is a great way to simulate the movement of the ground during an earthquake. Here is a basic guide on how to build a simple shake table using household materials:

• Large box or container with a flat bottom (such as a shoebox or plastic container)
• Rubber bands
• Paper clips
• Foam balls or marbles

Instructions:

• Cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside the bottom of the box or container. This will be the base of the shake table.
• Cut two cardboard rectangles that are the same size as the base of the shake table. These will be the supports for the shake table.
• Fold each support in half and use glue or tape to attach it to the sides of the base, forming a “V” shape.
• Cut two small pieces of cardboard and attach them to the top of each support using glue or tape. These will be the crossbars for the shake table.
• Cut two rubber bands and attach them to each end of one of the crossbars using paper clips.
• Thread foam balls or marbles onto the rubber bands until they are evenly spaced.
• Attach the other crossbar to the top of the supports using glue or tape.
• Wrap duct tape around the base of the shake table to secure the supports and crossbars in place.

To use the shake table, simply place objects on top and adjust the intensity of the shaking by pulling on the rubber bands. This simple shake table is a great way to teach kids about earthquake engineering and the importance of designing earthquake-resistant structures.

Build a Fault Line Model

Making a fault line model is a great way to teach kids about the movement of tectonic plates and how they can cause earthquakes. To get started, you will need a flat surface, modeling clay or playdough, and a ruler.

First, flatten out a piece of clay or playdough on a flat surface. Use the ruler to create a straight line down the middle of the clay. This line represents the fault line where the two tectonic plates meet.

Next, use your hands to push the clay on either side of the fault line in opposite directions. This simulates the movement of the tectonic plates and the buildup of tension along the fault line. Keep pushing until you can feel the tension release, which represents an earthquake.

To take the activity further, you can discuss the different types of faults, such as normal, reverse, and strike-slip faults. You can also use the model to demonstrate how earthquakes can occur at different depths and magnitudes depending on the type of fault and the amount of tension that has built up.

Test Seismic Waves

Seismic waves are the vibrations that travel through the Earth’s surface during an earthquake. These waves can be categorized into two types: primary waves (P-waves) and secondary waves (S-waves).

P-waves are the fastest and can travel through solid, liquid, and gas materials. They cause the ground to move back and forth in the same direction as the wave’s movement.

S-waves are slower than P-waves and can only travel through solid materials. They cause the ground to move up and down or side to side perpendicular to the direction of the wave. By using a slinky or a rope, kids can simulate the movement of these waves and observe their characteristics.

When demonstrating seismic waves, kids can also learn about how scientists use this knowledge to study earthquakes. Seismographs are instruments used to detect and record the vibrations caused by seismic waves. By analyzing the data collected by seismographs, scientists can determine the location, magnitude, and direction of an earthquake. This information is crucial for predicting and mitigating the impact of earthquakes on communities.

Build Your Own Seismometer

Building a homemade seismometer is a fun and educational activity for kids to learn about the detection of earthquakes. To get started, you will need a few household materials such as a plastic cup, a rubber band, a piece of paper, a magnet, and a coil of wire.

First, you need to create the sensor. Cut a piece of paper to fit inside the plastic cup, and attach the magnet to the center of the paper using the rubber band. Next, wrap the wire around the cup several times, leaving enough wire at the end to connect to a device that can detect the signal from the seismometer.

Once you have created the sensor, you can test it by placing it on a flat surface and tapping the surface near the sensor. You should see the magnet move, which means that the seismometer is detecting the vibration. You can also use a smartphone or other device to record the signal from the seismometer and analyze it using software.

Make a Shake Map

This activity is an excellent way to teach kids about the different levels of earthquake intensity and how they can impact different areas. To get started, you will need a map of the world or a specific region, such as a state or city. You can also print out a blank map and have the kids draw the different areas themselves.

Next, you will need to gather information on historical earthquakes that have occurred in the region. You can find this information online or at a local library. Use this information to create a key that shows the different levels of earthquake intensity, such as the Modified Mercalli Scale.

Once you have the map and key ready, have the kids color in the different areas on the map based on the intensity of past earthquakes. This will create a “shake map” that shows which areas are most prone to earthquakes and which areas are less likely to experience them. This activity is a great way to teach kids about earthquake preparedness and to start a discussion about how to stay safe during an earthquake.

To take the activity further, you can have the kids research and present on different aspects of earthquake science, such as plate tectonics, seismic waves, and earthquake prediction. This will help them gain a deeper understanding of the science behind earthquakes and the importance of being prepared. By engaging in hands-on activities like the shake map activity, kids can develop a greater appreciation for science and engineering, and the role they play in keeping us safe.

Simulate a Tsunami

A tsunami simulation is a hands-on activity that can help kids understand the destructive power of these massive waves. To get started, you will need a large container or tray, water, and objects to simulate buildings and other structures. You can use toy cars, building blocks, and other small objects to represent structures that could be affected by a tsunami.

Next, fill the container or tray with water, leaving enough space at the top to allow for waves to form. To simulate a tsunami, you can create waves by gently shaking the container or tray. Observe how the waves impact the structures in the container and note which structures are able to withstand the force of the waves and which ones are destroyed.

This simulation can be used to teach kids about the science behind tsunamis, such as how they are caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. You can also use this activity to discuss the importance of early warning systems and evacuation plans in areas prone to tsunamis.

Liquefaction Experiment

To create a liquefaction experiment, you will need a container, sand, and water. Fill the container with sand, leaving about an inch or two of space at the top. Slowly pour water over the sand until it is saturated. You want to add enough water so that the sand can no longer absorb any more, but not so much that it becomes soupy.

Next, gently shake the container to simulate an earthquake. You should see the sand start to lose its strength and become more fluid-like. This is the liquefaction process in action! To take the experiment further, you can add small objects to the container, such as toy cars or buildings, and watch as they sink into the liquefied sand.

This experiment is a great way to teach kids about the effects of earthquakes on the ground beneath us. It also helps to explain how liquefaction can cause buildings and structures to sink or topple during earthquakes. By demonstrating the concept of liquefaction in a hands-on way, kids can better understand the science behind earthquakes and the importance of earthquake preparedness.

Gelatin Jiggles

One way to teach kids about earthquakes is by creating a model of the Earth’s layers using gelatin. Gelatin is a fun and easy material to work with, and it can be used to create a realistic simulation of the Earth’s core, mantle, and crust. By adding food coloring to the gelatin mixture, kids can differentiate between the different layers of the Earth.

After the gelatin has set, kids can simulate an earthquake by shaking the container holding the gelatin model. As they shake the container, they can observe how the gelatin model responds to the vibrations, simulating the movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates during an earthquake.

Through this activity, children learn about the different layers of the Earth and how they interact with one another. They can also gain an understanding of how seismic waves travel through the Earth and the effects of earthquakes on the Earth’s surface. By engaging in this hands-on activity, kids can develop an appreciation for the science behind earthquakes and the importance of earthquake research in understanding and predicting these natural disasters. This activity can be a fun and educational way to teach kids about the Earth’s geology and the forces that shape our planet.

Build an Isolated Base

Base isolation is a technique used in earthquake-resistant building design to reduce the amount of seismic energy that is transferred to a building during an earthquake. Base isolation systems use flexible materials such as rubber or foam to separate a building from the ground, which helps to absorb the seismic energy and reduce the building’s response to ground motion.

By using foam or rubber bands to create a base isolation system, kids can simulate the effects of an earthquake on a small structure such as a toy house or Lego building. They can then observe how the base isolation system protects the building from damage during the simulated earthquake.

Through this activity, kids can learn about the principles of earthquake-resistant building design and the importance of engineering solutions in reducing the impact of natural disasters. They can also gain an understanding of the materials used in base isolation systems and how they work to protect buildings during earthquakes. Children will develop an appreciation for the role of engineering in creating safe and resilient communities. This activity can be a fun and educational way to teach kids about the science behind earthquake-resistant building design and the importance of earthquake preparedness.

Rocky Land Experiment

Rock formations are geological features that can be formed over millions of years through natural processes like erosion, weathering, and volcanic activity. Earthquakes are another force that can change the landscape by causing rocks to shift and break apart. Children can simulate how earthquakes can impact various forms of rocks by shaking the container holding the clay models. By observing the changes in the rock formations, kids can gain a better understanding of how earthquakes can alter the Earth’s surface.

In addition to learning about the effects of earthquakes on rock formations, kids can also learn about the geological features that can contribute to the occurrence of earthquakes. Faults are fractures in the Earth’s crust where rocks on either side can move in different directions.

Plate boundaries are areas where two tectonic plates meet, and earthquakes can occur when the plates move against each other. Drawing fault lines on a large piece of paper and simulating the movement of the plates by sliding them against each other help kids learn about the geology behind earthquakes.

Earthquake experiments can be a great way for kids to learn about the science behind natural disasters and the importance of preparedness. Through hands-on activities, kids can gain a deeper understanding of seismic waves, geological features, and engineering solutions that can help reduce the impact of earthquakes on communities. Moreover, these experiments can spark curiosity and interest in earth science that can last a lifetime.

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Natural Disaster Project Ideas

The wrath of Mother Nature is unpredictable at times. Having a solid understanding of the factors that cause natural disasters is the first step in being able to predict them. Although natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes and hurricanes cannot be prevented, natural disaster projects can give students a unique perspective on the factors that contribute to them.

Volcano Project

A volcano can be seen as one of the beautiful vistas in nature worth taking in until it becomes active and violent. There are many different types of volcanoes on Earth. Some of them are high, peaked mountains that spew hot lava. Others are merely vents in the earth that spew hot gas and lava from their center. A classic, mountain-like volcano is a fairly easy science project for kids of any age.

Mold clay into a conical mountain shape, leaving a deep hole in the peak of the mountain. Make sure the hole is large enough to fit a small film canister into it. Fit the canister down into the hole in your volcano, leaving the top off so that liquid can be poured into the canister.

Pour a tablespoon of baking soda into the canister. When you're ready for an eruption, add about a tablespoon of plain vinegar. Experiment with different amounts of baking soda and vinegar to get different amounts of force from your "lava." Consider setting up a small town, trees and shrubs or other signs of life on the outskirts of your volcano to add a realistic effect.

Tornado Project

A tornado is a tall column of spinning air that can cause a path of destruction when touching the ground. You can simulate a tornado with some water and a pair of soda bottles.

1. Fill one bottle with two-thirds water

Fill one bottle up to the halfway point with water. Leave the top off.

2. Place empty bottle on top

Take the cap off of the second bottle and put them cap-sides together, so that one bottle is inverted on top of the other. Tape them together like this, using plenty of tape to make sure that air or water does not escape from the spaces between the bottles.

3. Turn over bottle and rotate

Turn this contraption over and swirl it around a few times. A funnel should form. The movement of the water in the bottles can simulate the movement of air in a real tornado.

Earthquake Project

An earthquake science project may be the tastiest natural disaster simulation of all. Earthquakes are caused by the friction of two tectonic plates floating over molten lava. When they become unstable and move, an earthquake is the result. Make an instant pudding and refrigerate it until it becomes thick. Cut the pudding away from the edges of the dish with a knife, and slice the pudding down the middle to make two large plates. Use two spoons to push your pudding "tectonic plates" together and see what happens at the point where they collide. In real life, this collision point would be the fault line for an actual earthquake.

Applying the Facts

Observe your natural disaster projects and make inferences about things that can be done to safeguard people against the sometimes unpredictable and disastrous effects of Mother Nature. Consider ways to institute an evacuation plan, safeguard your house, or stock up items to have in the event of one of these natural disasters. Share this plan with your friends, family and other students and work on putting it into play in the event that you ever need it.

• Science Fair Adventure: Homemade Volcano
• Cool Science Projects: Tornado Science Project
• Education: Earthquake Project

Cite This Article

Campbell, Nicole. "Natural Disaster Project Ideas" sciencing.com , https://www.sciencing.com/natural-disaster-project-ideas-8088142/. 13 September 2019.

Campbell, Nicole. (2019, September 13). Natural Disaster Project Ideas. sciencing.com . Retrieved from https://www.sciencing.com/natural-disaster-project-ideas-8088142/

Campbell, Nicole. Natural Disaster Project Ideas last modified August 30, 2022. https://www.sciencing.com/natural-disaster-project-ideas-8088142/

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Detailed Book Description

Have you ever felt the ground beneath your feet move in an earthquake? Have you ever had to ride out a blizzard at home?

Natural Disasters! With 25 Science Projects for Kids guides kids ages 7 to 10 through a scientific introduction to the forces behind extreme meteorological events. Earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, wildfires, and more affect people around the world and appear in the news almost daily. Plus, climate change adds more fuel to storms, affects water supply, and makes conditions ripe for wildfires and rising water levels. Learn the science behind why through interactive STEM projects, essential questions, fascinating facts, and links to online resources.

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Try these hands-on science projects!

• Model plate tectonics
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction: A natural world includes natural disasters

Develop a safety plan

Chapter 1: Earthquakes and Tsunamis

Chapter 2: Volcanoes

Chapter 3: Floods and Drought

Chapter 4: Wildfire

Chapter 5: Tornadoes

Chapter 6: Hurricanes and Typhoons