Chimacum Elementary School Eagles!

Language Arts
Social Studies - Latin America & Canada
Science
Math
Parent's Corner
Class Links
Educational Links
Student Work
Homework and Daily Activities
My Main Page!
My Intro Page!
To email me, just click this button. Chimacum Middle School Chimacum School District
Chimacum Middle School

Tsunami WebQuest 2004, 2011, 2022
Chimacum Elementary School

Created by Al González
Chimacum, WA
Last updated on Saturday, January 13, 2024


Intro || Task || Process || Resources || Evaluation || Conclusion

Here are our sample student websites.


Introduction: One of the strongest earthquakes to hit our planet in this century caused a series of tsunamis that ravaged the coasts of India, Thailand and many Indonesian islands. The destruction and loss of life was so catastrophic that the whole world stood in shock at the sheer power of nature. Many are worried that this could happen again, somewhere else. Maybe at a coast near you.

Seven years after the Asian Tsunami of 2004 another massive earthquake off the coast of Japan ravaged that nation with another deadly tsunami. Then in 2022 a huge volcanic eruption near Tonga caused another humungous tsunami.


Bauunda Aceh, Indonesia before the tsunami hit.
Banda Aceh, Indonesia after the tsunami.



Japan's 2011 Tsunami photos:

Japan Coast Before and After Tsunami

Back to the top!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Task: Your job is to report on what happened as a result of these particular tsunamis. The question that you need to answer as a journalist is this, how can an earthquake, or volcanic eruption, cause a tsunami? Choose between creating a Google Slides presentation or an article written on Google Docs to share your report on your website eportfolio.

Back to the top!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Process:

Step 1:

You will begin by learning as much as you can about tsunamis and especially the 2004 Asian Tsunami, the 2011 Japan Tsunami, and the 2022 Tonga Tsunami. Use the following resources to accomplish your task.

Step 2:
Next, use your Science notebook to write down notes on the causes of tsunamis, and about the Asian, Japan, and Tonga tsunamis.

Read about summarizing vs paraphrasing to help you take notes. (Use the Back button on the top left to return to this page.)

Step 3:
Once you are done taking notes, you can start drafting your article or presentation.

 

Step 4:
Storyboard, which means organize, your presentation, webpage or news report so that it will make sense to your reader. Here is a Google Slides presentation on the purpose of Storyboarding. Here is a storyboard rubric with scoring guide so that you can do the best job possible. Remember, the better your storyboard, the better your final product.

Use the following Science Article Writing Chatbot for help writing your final copy.

Step 5:
Create your final product!

Back to the top!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resources:

Your Ship's Tsunami AI

If you get confused by the resources below or if you want to check that you understand what you are reading and learning, consult our starship's Tsunami AI consultant.

Tonga Tsunami

Start by working through this Pear Deck to learn about the 2022 Tonga Tsunami.

Articles:

  • "Tsunami facts: check out the mighty wave!" from National Geographic Kids provides general information about tsunamis, how they form, and their potential size.
  • "Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004" from Britannica Kids provides detailed information about the 2004 Asian Tsunami, including its causes, the damage it caused, and its aftermath.
  • "Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011" from Britannica Kids provides comprehensive information about the 2011 Japan Tsunami, including its causes, the damage it caused, and its aftermath.
  • "Earth Science for Kids" from Ducksters provides general information about tsunamis, including how they form and the damage they can cause.
  • "The Asian tsunami" from Kiddle provides detailed information about the 2004 Asian Tsunami, including its causes, the damage it caused, and its aftermath.
  • "Earthquake" from Kiddle provides detailed information about the 2011 Japan Tsunami, including its causes, the damage it caused, and its aftermath.

Videos:

Additional Resources:

Use the following Science Article Writing Chatbot for help writing your final copy

Back to the top!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation:

Rubric: Use the following rubrics to score your final product. Here is a research rubric.

CATEGORY

Excellent

4

Good

3

Needs Improvement

2

Poor

1

Notes
Notes are recorded and organized in an extremely neat and orderly fashion.
Notes are recorded legibly and are somewhat organized.
Notes are recorded.
Notes are recorded only with peer/teacher assistance and reminders.
Internet Use
Successfully uses suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.
Usually able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.
Occasionally able to use suggested internet links to find information and navigates within these sites easily without assistance.
Needs assistance or supervision to use suggested internet links and/or to navigate within these sites.
Quality of Information
Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.
Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.
Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.
Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.
Amount of Information
All topics are addressed and all questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.
All topics are addressed and most questions answered with at least 2 sentences about each.
All topics are addressed, and most questions answered with 1 sentence about each.
One or more topics were not addressed.
Organization
Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings.
Information is organized with well-constructed paragraphs.
Information is organized, but paragraphs are not well-constructed.
The information is disorganized.

18 to 20 = Excellent researching, 14 to 17 = Good researching, 12 to 13  = Your research needs work, 11 or less = You need to redo your research

Slides/Report Rubric
Website Rubric

 

SELF EVALUATION:
Answer the following questions:
    •How did you use your class time? Briefly describe your daily activities.
    •How did you work with your team?
        •Did you share information and responsibilities?
        •Describe how you broke up the responsibilities.
    •If you were to do this same project again, what would you do differently? What would make this a more meaningful activity for you?

Rate yourself on the following Teamwork Skills rubric.

CATEGORY

Excellent

4

Good

3

Needs Improvement

2

Poor

1

Contributions
Routinely provides useful ideas when participating in the group and in classroom discussion. A definite leader who contributes a lot of effort.
Usually provides useful ideas when participating in the group and in classroom discussion. A strong group member who tries hard!
Sometimes provides useful ideas when participating in the group and in classroom discussion. A satisfactory group member who does what is required.
Rarely provides useful ideas when participating in the group and in classroom discussion. May refuse to participate.
Quality of Work
Provides work of the highest quality.
Provides high quality work.
Provides work that occasionally needs to be checked/redone by other group members to ensure quality.
Provides work that usually needs to be checked/redone by others to ensure quality.
Time-management
Routinely uses time well throughout the project to ensure things get done on time. Group does not have to adjust deadlines or work responsibilities because of this person's procrastination.
Usually uses time well throughout the project, but may have procrastinated on one thing. Group does not have to adjust deadlines or work responsibilities because of this person's procrastination.
Tends to procrastinate, but always gets things done by the deadlines. Group does not have to adjust deadlines or work responsibilities because of this person's procrastination.
Rarely gets things done by the deadlines AND group has to adjust deadlines or work responsibilities because of this person's inadequate time management.
Working with Others
Almost always listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others. Tries to keep people working well together.
Usually listens to, shares, with, and supports the efforts of others. Does not cause "waves" in the group.
Often listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others, but sometimes is not a good team member.
Rarely listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others. Often is not a good team player.
Monitors Group Effectiveness
Routinely monitors the effectiveness of the group, and makes suggestions to make it more effective.
Routinely monitors the effectiveness of the group and works to make the group more effective.
Occasionally monitors the effectiveness of the group and works to make the group more effective.
Rarely monitors the effectiveness of the group and does not work to make it more effective.

18 to 20 = Excellent team member, 14 to 17 = Good team member, 12 to 13  = You need to work on being a better team member, 11 or less = You are a poor team member

Back to the top!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion: Thank you for reporting on these horrible tragedies. Now others can learn what happened in 2004, 2011, and 2022 and at the same time learn a little about earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis. By learning about the awesome force of nature and seeing what can happen to people we learn respect for nature and for those affected by nature. You learned what causes earthquakes and how special circumstances can lead to tsunamis. But those tsunamis weren't the last acts of nature to cause destruction. Follow up on what you learned here by learning about hurricanes, such as Katrina, or about volcanoes, such as Mt. Saint Helens. Nature can be destructive and constructive as well. Try and find out how.

Back to the top!