TSUNAMI TASK 1

Natural Disasters: Tsunami Technology Task

Ashley Westman

EDU 625.30 Integrating Learning and Technology

Kathy Milhauser
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Natural Disasters: Tsunami Technology Task

The third grade students of Deep River Elementary School in Deep River, CT will be

conducting a unit about natural disasters. They will be looking at six different natural disasters

which include hurricanes, tsunamis, volcanoes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and blizzards. The

students tasks will be to research what each natural disaster is, how it forms, where it can be

found, and any safety precautions that should be taken when one occurs. After learning about

each individually, the students will compare all six to determine their similarities and differences

as well as why they are all considered to be a natural disaster.

Subtopic

The first subtopic to be explored in the category of natural disasters are tsunamis.

Tsunamis have a lot of information regarding where they can be found, how they are formed, and

the dangers of them. However, there isnt too much where the information cannot be separated

into different categories. The students will be creating a mind map for this particular project to

outline the different objectives they are required to. Mind mapping is the best option for this task

since they, Start with a core topic and then use branches that flow outward from the central

topic to subtopics and key ideas and concepts (Petro, 2010, p. 21). Since the audience is third

grade students, mind maps will allow them to organize their information much easier. Their

topic will be tsunamis, and the objectives outline their branches; what tsunamis are, where they

happen, how they are formed, and safety tips. From there, students will add onto their branches

with one to two words to create a diagram of their learning.

At the end of the entire unit, students will have the task to compare and contrast all topics

in order to determine why all are considered natural disasters. As Murley (2007) states, Mind

mapping allows the researcher to visualize and manage complex information, see
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interrelationships between sources, and navigate between details and the big picture (p. 179).

The mind map will help students return to their very first subtopic, and be able to easily refresh

their memories on what tsunamis are. Since most facts are only one word, it helps students be

able to look back between all of their work to make those connections between natural disasters.

The mind map will include pictures and colors which helps those who are visual learners when

analyzing all completed tasks. One last reason mind mapping will help these elementary

students is because they allow for differentiation on how the students want to create them. Some

may include more colors, pictures, or text depending on how they learn best. The process can

be as simple or complex as you want to make it (Petro, 2010, p. 23). It allows for each student

to add as much information as they feel necessary for themselves based on their own abilities.

Objectives

1. Students will be able to describe at least five different attributes of a tsunami.

2. Students will be able to locate the places on a map where tsunamis occur throughout

the world.

3. Students will be able to explain how tsunamis are formed in their environment.

4. Students will be able to construct safety tips on how humans and animals can stay

safe during a tsunami.

5. Students will be able to compare tsunamis to the definition of natural disasters to

determine how and why it fits into that category.

Instructions

Below you will find step by step instructions on what students must do in order to

complete this task with their first subtopic of tsunamis.

1. Your first task will be to research the topic of tsunamis in order to learn more about
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them. You will use some books provided in the classroom, but most research will be

completed online. You each have your own iPad to use, and will be using different

applications as well as websites to conduct the research.

2. You will work together to read books on natural disasters and tsunamis on your iPads

using the application called Epic! This application outlines all different nonfiction

books, and you may create libraries, one for each type of natural disaster. I also have

created libraries ahead of time for each disaster so youll know right where to look.

3. You will also use your iPads to conduct research on different websites such as

National Geographic to gain information on tsunamis. There have been many lessons

ahead of time on how to properly use the iPad as well as how to determine if a

website is credible for use.

4. As youre researching, you will take notes on each of the four categories including

what a tsunami is, how its formed, where it can be found, and any safety tips to

staying safe. Your notes will be written as bullet points on the Tsunami Note Taking

Sheet (attached below). This will help to outline the notes used in the mind map.

You will need between five and ten facts in each column before moving on. Once

creating the mind map, you may also look back at the sources if you feel more facts

are needed in a certain area.

5. Once youve gathered five to ten facts in each box, you will be ready to begin your

mind map using MindMeister. You will start by clicking on New Mind Map, and

selecting a template. You are more than welcome to use a template already given, but

will be encouraged to start a blank one.

6. First, you will put the topic in the middle bubble, which should be Tsunami for
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everybody.

7. Next, you will create four branches off of your main topic for each box on the note

taking sheet.

8. After that, youll begin to create the rest of the mind map. I would recommend

working through one category at a time, but it doesnt matter which you choose to

begin with.

9. With each new idea, you will select a word youd like to branch off of, or the

subtopic, and click on the plus sign (+) on the top of the screen to add a new branch.

10. Youll complete this process by adding one to two words each time you begin a new

branch until you cannot think of anymore to add for that subtopic.

11. Once a subtopic is complete, you will move onto the next until all four are done.

12. After all of the text is added, you can then get creative with adding colors and

pictures. You can change the background and text color of each bubble, but each

subtopic should remain the same color so its easier to read and follow.

13. You may also add pictures to the design either by drawing your own, or searching for

an appropriate image on the internet. You may not add more than two images per

subtopic, otherwise the screen would become too cluttered.

14. Once color and pictures are added, you will be ready to share your mind map with the

rest of your classmates. This final part of the process is important so each of your

classmates can see how everybody created one, and how each mind map ended up

different and unique from your own.

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Name: __________________________________ Date: ________________

Tsunami Note Taking Sheet

What is a Tsunami? How are Tsunamis formed?

Where are Tsunamis found? Safety tips for a Tsunami

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References:

Murley, D. (2007). Mind mapping complex information. Law Library Journal, 99 (1), 175 183.

Petro Jr., N. J. (2010). Hate taking notes? Try mind mapping. Gpsolo, 27(4), 20-23.