Standard #: SC.6.E.7.7


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Investigate how natural disasters have affected human life in Florida.


General Information

Subject Area: Science
Grade: 6
Body of Knowledge: Earth and Space Science
Big Idea: Earth Systems and Patterns - The scientific theory of the evolution of Earth states that changes in our planet are driven by the flow of energy and the cycling of matter through dynamic interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, and biosphere, and the resources used to sustain human civilization on Earth.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 3: Strategic Thinking & Complex Reasoning - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

Course Number1111 Course Title222
2002040: M/J Comprehensive Science 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2002050: M/J Comprehensive Science 1, Advanced (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2001010: M/J Earth/Space Science (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2001020: M/J Earth/Space Science, Advanced (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
7820015: Access M/J Comprehensive Science 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2002055: M/J Comprehensive Science 1 Accelerated Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2002200: M/J STEM Environmental Science (Specifically in versions: 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2001100: M/J Coastal Science 1 (Specifically in versions: 2022 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))


Related Access Points

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.6.E.7.In.7 Identify possible effects of hurricanes and other natural disasters on humans in Florida.
SC.6.E.7.Su.7 Recognize possible effects of severe storms, hurricanes, or other natural disasters in Florida.
SC.6.E.7.Pa.5 Recognize where to go in severe weather situations or drills at school and at home.


Related Resources

Lesson Plans

Name Description
Natural Disasters

The students will learn about various types of natural disasters, including hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, heat waves, etc. The students will watch a video of some of the worst natural disasters in recorded history. They will participate in a discussion about what natural disasters occur in Florida and how people may be affected by them. Additionally, students will work in small groups to research and create an informational presentation, including a model, about a particular natural disaster to share with the class.

Building Materials and Locations

Students will apply their knowledge of hazardous weather to determine a system to rank where to build a new school and to select the type of building materials that should be used.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Water, Water Everywhere!

This lesson addresses current events regarding flooding in St. Petersburg, Florida. Students will create a water removal device from materials provided then use a 3D scanner to 3D print their devices.

Can You Stand the Wind and Rain?

In this lesson, students will:

  • Investigate how natural disasters have affected human life in Florida.
  • Add, subtract, and multiply multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm.
  • Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 and then solve problems involving finding the whole given a part and the percent.
Research How Hurricanes Affect Human Life in Florida

Students will conduct research for information about the effects of hurricanes in the State of Florida. At the end of this investigation, students will be instructed to produce a presentation that includes hurricane statistics and the city requirements for preparing for a hurricane.

This is a Disaster!

Students will be creating a poster to highlight local natural disasters and ways to prepare for them.

Gone with the Wind...NOT!

In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), students are offered a proposal to rank recommended hurricane proof buildings based on current designs and stability in hurricane season regions. This activity provides students with an open-ended, realistic problem in which students work as a team to evaluate structural designs - resilient and safe, in severe weather conditions, hurricane winds, storm surge, water damage/destruction. Students will research hurricane history, anatomy, and behavior, with the impact on geography and human population. The designs of models demonstrate students’ knowledge of a stable hurricane proof structure used as a basis for coastal structures.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Natural Disasters in Florida

The students will translate the information they have gained into a poster/picture of Florida's natural disasters, label the storms, and list on the poster at least three safety practices to use with each storm.

Original Student Tutorial

Name Description
Natural Disasters

Learn to identify several types of natural disasters that occur in Florida and how these disasters can affect people living there as you complete this interactive tutorial.

Perspectives Video: Experts

Name Description
Hurricane Forecasting

Mark Powell discusses the models used for hurricane predictions and the limitations that exist.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Hurricanes and Human Impacts

Mark Powell discusses the impacts that a hurricane can have.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Mathematically Modeling Hurricanes <p>Entrepreneur and meteorologist Mark Powell discusses the need for statistics in his mathematical modeling program to help better understand hurricanes.</p>
How Math Models Help Insurance Companies After a Hurricane Hits

Hurricanes can hit at any time! How do insurance companies use math and weather data to help to restore the community?

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Improving Hurricane Scales

Meteorologist, Michael Kozar, discusses the limitations to existing hurricane scales and how he is helping to develop an improved scale.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Probabilistic Weather Modeling

Meteorologist from Risk Management discusses the use of probability in predicting hurricane tracks.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Name Description
Hurricane Dennis & Failed Math Models

What happens when math models go wrong in forecasting hurricanes?

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Problem-Solving Task

Name Description
Severe Weather: Hurricanes In this computer-based real world unit, students will study and predict hurricanes.

Text Resource

Name Description
Hurricane Andrew’s Legacy: "Like a Bomb" in Florida

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area.  This article gives an account of the events before, during, and after Hurricane Andrew’s assault on South Florida in August of 1992. The author describes why South Florida was unprepared for what became a category 5 hurricane, why certain areas suffered such extensive damage, and improvements that have been made in prediction and preparedness for future storms. 

Tutorial

Name Description
Structures and Storms

Click "View Site" to open a full-screen version. This tutorial is designed to help secondary science teachers learn how to integrate literacy skills within their curriculum. This tutorial focuses on identifying and evaluating the different text structures authors use to organize information in informative texts. The focus on literacy across content areas is designed to help students independently build knowledge in different disciplines through reading and writing.

Student Resources

Original Student Tutorial

Name Description
Natural Disasters:

Learn to identify several types of natural disasters that occur in Florida and how these disasters can affect people living there as you complete this interactive tutorial.



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