Name: ______Date: ______

“Stop Disasters!” – Assignment Sheet

Introduction:

“Disasters triggered by natural hazards destroy lives and livelihoods. They affect millions of people every year, rich or poor. With your help, we can reduce the human, physical and financial cost of disasters by understanding the risks of applying the best methods of prevention and mitigation. Simple measures really do save lives. Your role is to plan and construct a safer environment for your population” (International Strategy for Disaster Reduction).

Before the Simulation:

  1. Watch the 55 min. PBS video “The Wave that Shook the World” (

During the Simulation:

  1. Go to and click on “Play Game”(it may take a minute to load), read the introduction and then “Launch Game”. Click on “Instructions” and read each section carefully.
  1. Click on “Play Game” and choose “Tsunami” – record the necessary information on your worksheet. Note:it is recommended to start with the “easy” scenario.
  1. Carefully read the “Mission Introduction” and again recordthe necessary information on your worksheet. The simulation then begins.
  1. As you start putting in place defences and developments, “Key Fact” boxes will pop up giving you valuable information. There are 15 “key facts” in each simulation – the more of these you uncover, the more points you earn. You will be required to record the “key facts” you discover, but wait until the second time you go through the simulation so you don’t waste valuable time (disasters usually hit 20 minutes into the simulation).
  1. At a certain point, the disaster will hit. Summarize the news report on your worksheet. Click on “View Scene” and look at the damage using your “Map” function. Click “Back” and then click on “View Report” and fill in the “Mission Report” tables. Answer the Analysis questions. Note: you will not be marked on your “score”, rather the completion and quality of the sheets.
  1. Go through the simulation again (using the same disaster type), but focus on uncovering the 15 Key Facts and summarizing them in the table. Don’t worry about your score or about the time.
  1. You can then exit the game and try the “Earthquake” Disaster (repeat steps 1-6).

After the Simulation:

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by a 9.1-9.3 earthquake. The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing over 230,000 people in fourteen countries, and inundating coastal communities with waves up to 30 meters high. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand (Wikipedia)

The tsunami that hit Japan in 2011 was caused by a magnitude 9.03 earthquake. It was the most powerful known earthquake ever to have hit Japan, and one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world since modern record-keeping began in 1900. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 40 metres. Almost 16 000 people were killed by the tsunami, and over 125 000 buildings totally collapsed. The earthquake moved Honshu (the main island of Japan) 2.4 m east and shifted the Earth on its axis by estimates of between 10 cm and 25 cm (Wikipedia).

Type a 1.5-2page, typed, double-spaced write-up (approx. 300-500words) answering the following question: Why was the Indian Ocean tsunami so much more destructive than the Japanese tsunami?

It should include:

  • A short introduction paragraph:
  • Including key information provided on the assignment sheet
  • Question is restated in introduction
  • 3 reasons why the Indian Ocean Tsunami was more destructive are introduced
  • 3 short paragraphs explaining each reason in more detail, including connections made with the simulation
  • A short conclusion paragraph (restating the key reasons in different words than the introduction)
  • Use proper MLA format for this assignment (e.g. formatting, in-text citations, Works Cited list)

Evaluation: see attached rating scaleDue Date: ______

M. Farley:

“STOP DISASTERS!” WORKSHEET (TSUNAMI)

BACKGROUND (fill out before simulation begins)

Disaster Type: ______Location: ______Terrain: ______

Difficulty Level: ______Population: ______Time Allotted: ______Budget: ______

Challenge (summarize in your own words):

MISSION REPORT (fill out after disaster hits)

Summarize the news report of the disaster:

Housing and Development:

Buildings Destroyed: / Total Damages: / Population Housed:
Population Died: / Population Sheltered: / Population Injured:

Mission (pass or fail):

School built: / Hospital built: / Scenario mission:

Bonus:

Key Facts Found: / Budget Remaining: / Final Score: / Pass or Fail?

ANALYSIS (fill out after disaster hits)

1. What measures seemed to be the most successful?

2. What might you do differently the next time you try it?

“STOP DISASTERS!” KEYFACT TABLE– Disaster Type: TSUNAMI

After you have completed a disaster simulation once and recorded the necessary information for your Worksheet (see previous page), try the disaster again but this time focus on uncovering the 15 Key Facts and summarizing them below. Don’t worry about your score or the time.

Key Fact Title / Key Fact Summary – in your own words
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

“STOP DISASTERS!” WORKSHEET (EARTHQUAKE)

BACKGROUND (fill out before simulation begins)

Disaster Type: ______Location: ______Terrain: ______

Difficulty Level: ______Population: ______Time Allotted: ______Budget: ______

Challenge (summarize in your own words):

MISSION REPORT (fill out after disaster hits)

Summarize the news report of the disaster:

Housing and Development:

Buildings Destroyed: / Total Damages: / Population Housed:
Population Died: / Population Sheltered: / Population Injured:

Mission (pass or fail):

School built: / Hospital built: / Scenario mission:

Bonus:

Key Facts Found: / Budget Remaining: / Final Score: / Pass or Fail?

ANALYSIS (fill out after disaster hits)

1. What measures seemed to be the most successful?

2. What might you do differently the next time you try it?

“STOP DISASTERS!” KEYFACT TABLE– Disaster Type: EARTHQUAKE

After you have completed a disaster simulation once and recorded the necessary information for your Worksheet (see previous page), try the disaster again but this time focus on uncovering the 15 Key Facts and summarizing them below. Don’t worry about your score or the time.

Key Fact Title / Key Fact Summary – in your own words
1.
2. N/A / N/A
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

M. Farley:

Rating Scale for “Stop Disasters” ProjectName: ______

Criteria / Comments / Level 1
Needs Improve-ment / Level 2
Satisfac-tory / Level 3
Good / Level 4
Excellent / Mark:
Worksheets
(Application) /
  • all sections are fully complete
  • analysis answers show depth and thoughtfulness
/ 5 / 6 / 7
8 / 9
10 / /10 (A)
Key Fact Tables
(Application) /
  • all key facts are found (except #2 for Earthquakes)
  • key facts are concisely summarized in student’s own words
/ 5 / 6 / 7
8 / 9
10 / /10 (A)
Write-up (300-500 words)
(Thinking, Inquiry) /
  • A short introduction:
  • Includes key information provided on the assignment sheet.
  • Question is restated in introduction.
  • 3 reasons why the Indian Ocean Tsunami was more destructive are introduced.
  • 3 Paragraphs explaining each reason in more detail (including connections made with the Stop Disaster simulation).
  • A short conclusion (restating the key reasons in different words than the introduction).
  • MLA in-text citations + Works Cited
/ 10
11 / 12
13 / 14
15
16 / 17
18
19
20 / /20 (T)
Reflection – writing mechanics (style, grammar, spelling)
(Communication) /
  • proper spelling and grammar
  • style enhances the report
/ 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / /5 (C)
Entire Project -
Neatness and Organization
(Communication) /
  • well-organized
  • neat
  • pleasing to the eye
/ 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / /5 (C)
Additional Comments: / Total Mark
/50 / /20 (A)
/20 (T)
/10 (C)
Adjusted %
/100

M. Farley: