Surviving a Disaster – Teacher's Guide

Overview

In this activity, students will read authentic stories of people who survived terrible natural disasters or human traumas. They will be asked to keep a journal of the author's personal emotions and the events. They will be asked to reflect on the strength needed to overcome these tragedies.

Students can access all the Internet sites for the Interactive Activities by clicking onStudents' Area in the ECB On-line homepage, then click on:

  • Interactive Activity links - The links to the Internet sites are listed under the names of the activities.
    - or -
  • Elementary, Junior High, High School. Choose their coursebook.

Level

Proficiency (Grades 11 and 12)

Time

Two 45-minute lessons (not including homework)

Group Size

Individual, pairs or groups

Objectives

The students will be able to ...

... recognize and appreciate different literary genres.

... express personal ideas about culture, historical and/or social themes.

Procedure

Discuss how the students believe people survive traumatic experiences. If any of the students, their friends or family have been through a traumatic experience, try to elicit what happened and how they felt. Be sensitive to the students' feelings. Stop when you see they are becoming too emotional or uncomfortable.

Tell the students that they are going to read the true story of a person who lived through a traumatic experience or disaster.

Give the students the Surviving Disaster ActivityAsk the students to choose one of the true stories from the Internet sites.

Ask the students to:

  • keep a journal of what happened to the survivor
  • express how the person felt about the trauma at the time it was happening.
  • explain what they believe gave the person strength to keep going.
  • write about what they would have done in a similar situation. Would they have been able to cope and survive? Why or why not?

Presentation

The students should present their findings to the class. Their presentation should include a timeline summary of what happened to the person and examples of their emotional and mental experiences.

Have groups of students who read the same story, compare their findings. Ask them to discuss how the person physically, mentally and emotionally survived the ordeal. Ask them to conclude what emotional, physical and mental strength a person needs to survive.

Surviving Disasters – Activity

To find the Internet site you need to complete this activity

  • Go to: ECB Online:
  • Click on Student's Area
  • Click on Interactive Activity Links or look for your course book.
  • Find the activity: Surviving Disasters
  • Use these Internet sites to help you.

Choose one of the Survival Stories from the Internet sites.

  • I Survived the Titanic — by Ruth Becker
  • A Grandson reflects on the Shoah and his Grandfather's survival — by Leo Laufer
  • What the 1994 Northridge Earthquake was like for me.
  • Dolly McTigue Survival Story — an interview with a ship survivor
  • Amy Knowlton Surviving a Plane Crash — an interview
  • Fire: Lise Bohannon

. If you have printed the stories before, hand them out. If not, go to the Internet with the class to locate and print the stories or ask them to do it at home.

Read the story and

  • keep a journal of what happened to the survivor
  • express how the person felt about the trauma at the time it was happening.
  • explain what they believe gave the person strength to keep going.
  • write about what they would have done in a similar situation. Would they have been able to cope and survive? Why or why not?