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How can you save a town from a hurricane?
Watery Planet Unit | Lesson 5 of 5

How can you save a town from a hurricane?

Watery Planet Unit | Lesson 5 of 5
Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS (1 of 2):

Where does the water in a hurricane come from?

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DISCUSS (2 of 2):

Why is there so much rain from a hurricane?

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DISCUSS:

Why do you think some areas of New Orleans flooded while others did not?

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Activity Extension

Tell your students that the people of Beachtown had a meeting to discuss the proposals your class came up with. Ask your students how they would answer their questions or address their issues.

Remember: There are no right answers and it may be difficult to make everyone happy.

  • Mrs. Green doesn’t like the plans that include wetlands because she thinks wetlands have lots of mosquitoes. What would you say to convince Mrs. Green that wetlands are a good idea?
  • Mr. Crawford's great-great-grandfather owned the historic general store on Ocean Avenue. He says that stilts are not historically accurate. Can you protect that building without using stilts and stay within budget?
  • Mr. Hunter is a bird watcher. He thinks you should make a nature trail through the wetlands for bird watchers. Do you have the budget for that?
  • Suppose the town council got a federal grant to help. Now they have another $200,000 to spend and they want to protect as many ordinary (non-historic buildings) as possible. How would you revise your plan?
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hurricane


1 of 13

a type of windstorm that starts as a smaller storm over the ocean
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natural hazard


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an event in nature (such as a landslide, earthquake, hurricane, or wildfire) that can be dangerous to living things
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natural disaster


3 of 13

the harmful impacts on humans that happen after a natural hazard, such as a landslide, earthquake, hurricane, or wildfire
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storm surge


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when water levels rise quickly because of a storm
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flood


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an overflow of water
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levee


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a barrier built to prevent an overflow of water from a river
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seawall


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a barrier built to prevent an overflow of water from a large body of water, like the ocean
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wetland


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a habitat where the land is covered by shallow water, such as a swamp
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elevation


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the height of something
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evaporation


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the process of a liquid changing to a gas
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engineer


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a person who uses science to come up with solutions to problems
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constraint


12 of 13

something that limits what you can do
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budget


13 of 13

the amount of money you have to spend on something
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Lesson narration:

Grade 5

Water Cycle & Earth's Systems

Natural Disasters & Engineering

3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students examine the causes of flooding using the real-world example of Hurricane Katrina. In the activity, Save Beachtown, students propose plans to prevent flooding and save historic buildings in a coastal town–all while staying within budget!

Preview activity

Exploration

15 mins

Wrap-Up

5 mins

Grade 5

Water Cycle & Earth's Systems

Natural Disasters & Engineering

3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3

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