For this week's discussion, I felt that earthquakes were the earth's most devastating natural disaester for human life and the environment. Earthquakes are so undetectable and the aftermaths of them can be so enormously challenging to overcome.
One of the resources shared by our professor in regards to helping students understand the differences and effects between natural disasters was this website, http://www.stopdisastersgame.org/en/home.html, this is a great starting point for students to learn about these natural disasters and their impacts on human life and the environment.
The thing that I liked about this website is it is user-friendly, and easy to understand and relate to for students of many different ages. Also, I can leave the site and come back to it at another time, students can collect data from it and reflect upon their learning from that data. Having the data component is also critical, as it allows students to be reflective as well as share ideas and results with other students in the class. Also, it incorporates the use of technology for our students which is a 21st century learning skill for students, so having them learn about natural disasters through this type of resource is absolutely wonderful.
Hello Jared,
ReplyDeleteI like the resource site of http://www.stopdisastersgame.org/en/home.html that you shared. It was very helpful to me. My students would love to play with this website and gain knowledge on preventing disasters. I agree that earthquakes are a very bad natural disaster. Also, earthquakes cause Tsunami's. Tillery (2008) says Tsunami is Japanese for very large wave. Would you have your students research why it is a Japanese word and how many tsunami's have recently struck Japan after the nuclear reactor melt down?
Thanks, Adam
Resources
Tillery, B. W., Enger, E. D., & Ross, F. C. (2008). Integrated science (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
I also liked the web site although I think it may be too hard for many of my students. I teach fourth grade and the game is actually pretty complicated. I did notice however that you can choose the difficulty level and with lots of modeling and using a gradual release model I think my students might be able to play the game in partners. I wonder if there are any websites that have the same idea but are meant for younger grades. What grade do you teach and do you have any suggestions for adapting this game to a fourth grade classroom? In addition, half of my class are English Learners.
ReplyDeleteJared,
ReplyDeleteI found this web site to be quite engaging and informative. Thank you for including a link on your blog. Have you used the site yet with your students? What grade do you teach?
Jared:
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this link. I liked the fact that students need to use critical-thinking skills to play the game. I find that my 8th grade students are not always comfortable doing this but when it is in the form of a game, they are more likely to try without too much complaining. Have you used this with your students?
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you enjoyed the website! I would also like to know if you have used it with your students :) Also, I wanted to suggest the following site to help get students involved in assisting others directly:
http://www.dosomething.org/
Amy :)