By: Jennifer Perkins4th Grade Teacher

1
By Jennifer Perkins-4th Grade Teacher
Click Here to Continue
2
Types of Natural Disasters
Most people think that there are only 3 different
types of natural disasters tornadoes,
hurricanes, and earthquakes. This assumption
comes from the thought of the disasters that tend
to cause the most damage. We often forget the
other disasters that may leave less damage or
occur less frequently volcanoes, floods,
landslides, fires, droughts, typhoons, cyclones,
blizzards, avalanches, and tsunamis.
You will be required to learn about 8 out of 13
of these disasters. They are tornadoes,
hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods,
landslides, fires, and droughts. You will
discover what makes each of these disasters occur
and what type of destruction they leave.
Click Here to Continue
3
How do Natural Disasters Occur? (click on the
picture to find out)

• tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Earthquakes
• Volcanoes

• Floods
• Landslides
• Fires
• droughts

This Picture provided by http//news.dipag.it/pic
tures/lowres/20030904/0000001367.jpg
Click here to see the damage that these natural
disasters have done.
4
Tornadoes
Cool Air
A tornado is a dangerous twisting funnel-shaped
cloud. It is accompanied by high winds and is
often in front of a cold front. It usually starts
out as a thunderstorm. As cool air from the cold
front overrides a layer of warm air, the warm air
is forced to rise rapidly.

Warm Air
5
Hurricanes
A hurricane is a lot like a tornado. It occurs
when warm moist air begins to rise as cool air is
moving in over the moist air. This battle
between air masses causes circulation. The
difference between a hurricane and a tornado is
that a hurricane occurs over water (thus, the
moisture in the air). Also, hurricanes tend to
get much bigger and typically carry a lot more
rain.
Picture provided by http//www.germantown.k12.il.
us/html/title.html
6
Earthquakes
An earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused
by the shifting of the earths crust.
Picture provided by www.fema.gov/kids/quake.htm
7
Volcanoes
Volcanoes are eruptions in the earth. These
eruptions are caused by hot, unsettled magma
below the earths surface. The magma needs a
place to go, so it flows out of a hole called a
vent at the top of the volcano. Once the magma
is released from the volcano it becomes known as
lava.
8
Floods
Floods occur when waterways, like streams and
rivers are filled past their capacity. These
waterways are filled by enormous amounts of
rainfall in a short amount of time. The water
leaves the banks and begins to saturate the
usually dry land. The dry land that the water
invades becomes too wet and the water moves on
towards homes and other structures.
9
Landslides
Picture provided by http//www.germantown.k12.il
.us/html/title.html
Landslides have the same cause as floods. Large
amounts of rainwater seep into the soil, usually
on higher elevations. The water loosens the soil
and the soil moves downhill.
10
Fires
The number one cause of forest fires are humans.
People do silly things like burn trash and throw
out lit cigarettes. The flames from these things
are fueled by very dry land (lack of rain).
Another way fires are caused are by lightning.
11
Droughts
Droughts are not usually thought of as natural
disasters. Droughts occur when there is a lack
of rain. We need rainwater to fill up our local
reservoirs. Without rain, we dont get the water
we need physically. This may not sound very
drastic, however, places like Africa experience
disastrous circumstances due to the lack of water.
12
The Aftermath-The Destruction Left Behind
Click on the picture to find out

• tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Earthquakes
• Volcanoes

• Floods
• Landslides
• Fires
• droughts

This Picture provided by http//news.dipag.it/pic
tures/lowres/20030904/0000001367.jpg
Click here to see resources and take the quiz.
13
Tornadoes
Tornadoes have a way of leaving their mark. The
destruction is not usually widespread. It
typically has a set path that it travels and
destroys everything in its way. You can tell a
tornados destruction by flattened houses, roof
damage, and trees and power lines bent or down.
Sometimes people are hurt or even die (practicing
tornado safety is important).
Picture from the Masterson Station Neighborhood.
Picture provided by www.courier-journal.com/local
news/2004/05/29ky/Gallery/12.html
14
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are more widespread, as opposed to
tornadoes. They are much larger in size and last
much longer than tornadoes. Their destruction
can destroy many islands and even states before
they finish. The destruction once again looks
like demolished houses and buildings, trees down,
and even personal injury (if not careful).
Picture provided by http//encarta.msn.com/relate
d_761565992_22.5/Hurricane_Opal_Destruction.html
15
Earthquakes
Earthquakes cause significant damage to buildings
and structures. The worst part about earthquakes
is that you cant predict them and prepare for
them like you can the weather. The result is a
lot of injury.
Picture provided by http//www.geo.arizona.edu/s
alaisg/hazard/page3.html
16
Volcanoes
Volcanoes leave behind destruction that may seem
minimal compared to other natural disasters. In
fact, they are just as dangerous. The lava
flowing from the volcano can kill someone
instantly, if touched. Volcanoes also erupt
smoke and ash, which get into the air. The smoke
makes the sky appear foggy and the ash can burn
items or leave them buried, like this truck.
Picture provided by http//interactive2.usgs.gov
/learningweb/teachers/volcanoes.htm
17
Floods
Floods have their own destructive powers. Not
only can they force people out of their homes,
they can destroy homes, cars, and even farmland.
Some farmers arent as lucky to have their cattle
air lifted to safety.
Pictures provided by http//twm.co.nz/wetpics2004
.html
18
Landslides
Landslides cause similar damage as flooding and
are caused by flooding. However, landslides
carry soil and mud. There is so much soil and
mud that entire streets and structures are wiped
out. People have even been buried under the mud.
The picture provided shows the path the mud is
traveling-down the mountain from the higher
elevation into the town.
Picture provided by http//www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD
/europe/10/16/weather.swiss.02
19
Fires
Fires are truly destructive. They can wipe out
entire ecosystems. The plant-life, trees,
habitats, and animals can all be destroyed.
People can also loose their homes to this
horrific disaster.
Picture provided by http//cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca
/en/publications/fighting_fire_tech_e.php
20
Droughts
Droughts dont seem that devastating, but to many
farmers it can do a lot of harm. Farming is the
way many people survive. If the crops cant
grow, the farmers dont eat and you may not eat.
This African child shown below is starving
because of droughts.
Picture provided by http//www.worldvision.org
Picture provided by http//www.ucar.edu/oga/packe
t
21

• Information on other natural disasters not
  covered in this lesson
• Avalaches http//www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/a
  valanche1.html
• Blizzards http//www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/b
  lizzard1.html
• Tsunami
• http//www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/tsunami.html
• Typhoon http//www.faqs.org/faqs/meteorology/stor
  ms-faq/part1/
• Cyclone http//www.faqs.org/faqs/meteorology/stor
  ms-faq/part1/

22
Resources

• http//interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers
  /volcanoes.htm
• http//twm.co.nz/wetpics2004.html
• http//www.fema.gov/kids/quake.htm
• http//www.ucar.edu/oga/packet/
• http//www.germantown.k12.il.us/html/title.html
• http//news.dipag.it/pictures/lowres/20030904/0000
  001367.jpg
• http//www.worldvision.org
• http//twm.co.nz/wetpics2004.html
• http//cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/en/publications/fight
  ing_fire_tech_e.php
• http//www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/europe/10/16/weather
  .swiss.02
• http//www.geo.arizona.edu/salaisg/hazard/page3.h
  tml
• http//encarta.msn.com/related_761565992_22.5/Hurr
  icane_Opal_Destruction.html
• www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2004/05/29ky/Gal
  lery/12.html
• All other pictures provided by Microsoft
  Powerpoint Clipart
• Information provided by teacher knowledge

23
Quiz Click on the Link below to take the quiz
http//school.discovery.com/quizzes28/wjperk1/natu
raldisasters.html