Unit Plan 13 (Grade 6 Science): Mapping Natural Hazards
Analyze global hazard patterns from earthquakes, volcanoes, and storms to forecast higher-risk regions and suggest simple mitigation strategies to reduce impact.
Focus: Interpret global patterns of earthquakes, volcanoes, and severe storms using maps and data, and use these patterns to forecast where catastrophic events are more likely and suggest basic mitigation strategies.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Science (Earth & Human Activity)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, students become hazard detectives by using maps and data sets to explore where earthquakes, volcanoes, and storms (e.g., hurricanes, cyclones, major tornado outbreaks) occur around the world. They analyze patterns that link hazards to plate boundaries, coasts, and particular climate zones and learn the difference between hazard, risk, and vulnerability. Finally, they use these patterns to forecast which areas are at higher risk and propose simple mitigation ideas (early warning, building codes, evacuation plans) to reduce impacts, aligned with MS-ESS3-2.
Essential Questions
- What are natural hazards, and how do earthquakes, volcanoes, and severe storms show patterns around the globe?
- How can maps and data on past events help us forecast where future catastrophic events are more likely?
- What is the difference between hazard, risk, and vulnerability?
- How can communities use information about hazards and risk to prepare for and mitigate the effects of natural disasters?
- Why is it important to combine science, maps, and local planning when making decisions about where and how people live?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Define natural hazard, risk, vulnerability, and mitigation in their own words with examples.
- Analyze and interpret world maps showing the locations of earthquakes, volcanoes, and major storms to identify global patterns.
- Explain how patterns in hazard data can be used to forecast higher-risk regions, while recognizing that exact times of events cannot be predicted.
- Compare how different regions face different hazard types and levels of risk based on geography, climate, and human factors.
- Develop a simple Hazard & Mitigation Profile for a selected region that:
- Describes likely hazards and risk level based on data.
- Proposes at least two mitigation strategies informed by the patterns they observed, aligned with MS-ESS3-2.
Standards Alignment — 6th Grade (NGSS-based custom)
- MS-ESS3-2 — Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
- In this unit: students use maps and data on earthquakes, volcanoes, and storms to identify high-risk regions and suggest mitigation strategies (warning systems, building design, land-use planning, evacuation routes).
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can explain what a natural hazard is and give examples of earthquakes, volcanoes, and major storms.
- I can use maps and data to find patterns in where hazards happen around the world.
- I can explain why some places have higher risk for certain hazards and why scientists talk about forecasts, not exact predictions.
- I can describe how communities can reduce risk using warning systems, stronger buildings, or better planning.
- I can create a Hazard & Mitigation Profile that uses evidence from maps and data to explain risk and propose mitigation ideas for a region.