Jump to this Activity »
Hurricane Katrina
https://www.strategies.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/KatrinaAll-copy.pdf

Earth System Science Education Alliance

In this problem-based learning module, students research and report on Hurricane Katrina, using an earth systems science analysis approach.

This activity takes several hours, depending on how long students are given to research the problem. It could also be done as homework to reduce class time.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Grade Level

Regional Focus

Online Readiness

Topics

Climate Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • Student Pages and Teacher Notes could not be downloaded. It is possible they give more guidance and clearer explanations for the task to be completed.
  • Despite the several broken links this activity is still of good quality. The educator will need to replace the broken sources with up to date resources, but that should not cause too much of a problem.
  • The activity itself is still relevant (if not more so) and can still be accomplished even without the suggested sources.
  • In addition, the activity can still be performed without the use of the teaching guide.

About the Content

  • This resource is a description of a research activity for students to evaluate Hurricane Katrina using an earth system science approach.
  • The students are given a variety of resources to begin answering questions involving the affect of climate change on hurricanes and how those are interconnected to other processes in the system.
  • Some of the background information is slightly out of date, but that can easily be remedied if current sources are provided by the educator.
  • It is important to note that in the last ten years more research has been done on this topic so students should have more sources to accomplish the assigned project.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • The assignment is presented in a step-by-step fashion with clear objectives stated and sources to help get the students started.
  • Elementary students may need to have a deeper understanding of spheres that make the Earths Systems prior to engaging in this lesson. Consider referencing the Understanding Global Change resources in the CLEAN toolbox.
  • Students are asked to perform an earth's system science analysis on Hurricane Katrina and this involves having a background understanding of many different physical processes.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • Could not link to the following: CCSP, Weather and Climate, Extremes in Changing Climate, 2008; American Meteorological Society, Climate Change Information Statement, 2007; Student Pages and Teacher Notes; Scenario: National Climate Data 2005; and NASA-Hurricane Katrina, 2005
  • The full version with teacher notes and student only activity sheet links are broken as well.
Entered the Collection: August 2020 Last Reviewed: June 2020

Jump to this Activity »