Natural Disasters Uncovered

Curriculum Links

Subject: Geography
Key Stage: KS2
Year Group: Year 6
Duration: 45 minutes
National Curriculum Aim:

“Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including: volcanoes, earthquakes and the water cycle.”
“Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.”

This lesson focuses specifically on physical geography, supporting pupils in understanding the powerful natural phenomena of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions by exploring three real-world events:

• The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
• The 2010 Haiti Earthquake
• La Soufrière Volcano (including 2021 eruption in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• Identify key facts about a significant natural disaster.
• Locate the disaster event on a world map using atlases or digital tools.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the causes and effects of natural disasters.
• Reflect on the human and environmental impact.
• Collaboratively research and present information in the form of a visually engaging factfile.

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Key Vocabulary

• Magnitude
• Tectonic plates
• Volcano
• Tsunami
• Seismic
• Lava
• Epicentre
• Disaster relief
• Human impact
• Environmental impact

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Resources Needed

• Large laminated world map or interactive whiteboard map
• Atlases or access to tablets/laptops (if ICT suite is available)
• Printed factfile templates (structured but allows creativity)
• Scissors, glue sticks, coloured pens/pencils
• Research packs printed (headline summaries of each disaster)
• Lolly sticks with event titles for group selection
• Audio/visual stimulus (optional: silent looping video of tsunami/waves/volcano)

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Lesson Structure

Starter (10 minutes) – Earth Shaker!

HOOK ACTIVITY - Mini Simulation Task:

• Begin with the lights dimmed and a gentle vibration sound (such as distant rumbling or wave crashing) to set the atmosphere.
• Display three large images (no labels) of each event on the board: one showing a flooded street, one showing cracked earth, one showing erupting lava.
• Ask:
  • “What do these three events have in common?”
  • “How do you think they affect people’s lives?”
• Pupils pair and think-pair-share with shoulder partners. Draw out the concept of natural disasters.
• Introduce the learning objective and make explicit links to the KS2 curriculum.

Geography Skills Focus:

• Reading imagery
• Making inferences from photo evidence
• Geolocation of disasters

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Main Activity (30 minutes) – Create a Natural Disaster Factfile

Step 1 – Group Allocation (2 minutes):
Each pair/trio draws a lolly stick to find out which event they’ll explore:

• 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
• 2010 Haiti Earthquake
• La Soufrière Volcano

Step 2 – Investigate (10 minutes):
Distribute tailored research packs for each group. Each pack includes:

• A brief child-friendly fact sheet about the event
• A prompt sheet with these key areas to research or note:
  • What happened?
  • Where did it happen?
  • When did it happen?
  • What caused it?
  • What damage did it cause (human, environmental, economic)?
  • Could it happen in the UK? Why or why not?
• Atlases provided to locate the event on a map. Pupils also mark this on a laminated map using post-it arrows or dry-wipe pens.

Step 3 – Design Your Factfile (15 minutes):
Each group creates a ‘Disaster Factfile’ using the given template. Factfiles must include:

• Eye-catching title
• Map showing disaster location
• Timeline or sequence of events
• One image (drawn or from clip sheet)
• Key facts (5+)
• Fun fact or myth-buster
• A short reflection: “If this happened in my town…”

Stretch Challenge: Pupils can create a short news headline or design a ‘What to do’ emergency guide.

Teacher role during this time:

• Circulate and assess group engagement
• Pose challenge questions: “Why do you think so many people were affected in this place?” or “How does the response compare to what we might do in the UK?”
• Encourage critical thinking around global inequality in disaster response

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Plenary (5 minutes) – Gallery Walk & Reflection

• Groups lay out their factfiles on tables around the room.
• Half the groups stay to explain, half rotate, then swap.
• While pupils move, prompt with guiding questions:
  • “Which disaster caused the most damage?”
  • “Which place seemed best prepared or least prepared?”
  • “What surprised you the most?”

Gather pairs back together to reflect:

“What did you learn about the power of nature today?”
“Why is it important for geographers to study natural disasters?”

Use a quick exit ticket:
“One thing I learned / One question I still have” (sticky note or mini-whiteboard)

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Assessment Opportunities

Formative:

• Quality and content of factfile
• Participation in discussion and reflection
• Use of geographical vocabulary
• Map skills when locating and annotating

AfL Strategies:

• Think-pair-share
• Group investigation
• Peer presentation
• Exit reflection

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Extension Possibilities

• Create a class wall map plotting global natural disasters
• Use drama to re-enact the moment a disaster struck
• Write a diary entry from the perspective of a child during one of the disasters
• STEM link: design an early-warning system or earthquake-proof structure

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Teacher Wow Factor

• Multi-sensory learning: audio cues, visual prompts, physical map interaction
• Cross-curricular potential: links to literacy, art, and science
• Emphasis on empathy, global citizenship and real-world geography
• Encourages critical thinking and teamwork
• Flexible resources to support all learners, from EAL to GDS

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Differentiation

• Simplified fact sheets for lower attainers or EAL pupils
• Challenge prompts for high attaining groups (compare to UK geography, disaster prediction methods, social inequality)
• Mixed ability grouping encouraged to promote peer support
• Templates offer scaffolding while allowing for creativity and independence

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Follow-Up

• Plan a UK-based hazard investigation: “Could an earthquake ever affect Britain?”
• Research UK emergency services and how we plan for natural hazards
• Cross-subject link: narrative writing based on surviving a natural disaster

Homework Option:
Create a factfile on a new disaster of your choice
OR
Interview a family member about a weather event they’ve experienced

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End of Lesson Plan
(Designed to impress, inspire and inform – geography made unforgettable)