8th Grade Weather Safety
Project
Safety
practices extend well beyond the science classroom. This project asks you to take a look at
weather events that could affect our area and how you and your family can stay
safe in a weather-related emergency.
Your final project should be turned in as a packet or in a folder.
Please type
or write in ink so the writing does not fade.
When your project is returned, place in a zip lock bag and store
somewhere accessible at your house. Our
goal is that this project packet becomes your “Home Safety Folder”
Project
Requirements:
·
Your family’s safe location: Where do you go in
an emergency? List up to 3
locations. Have a parent sign that you
know the address, general location, and phone number by heart.
·
Out of Area point of contact: Who could your
family call if there is an emergency? If
you are separated during an emergency, where could everyone check in?
·
Map of Area (Gaithersburg):
Mark your home, a safe place, any emergency support areas such as
hospital, fire dept, police station. Good websites for this are Mapquest or Google Maps.
·
Diagram of your home with the following marked:
o Home address for emergency call
o Cell phone number(s) of household members
o Main exits
o Emergency exits
o Fire extinguishers
o Smoke Detectors
o Carbon Monoxide (opt)
o Water shut off
o Gas shut off (opt)
o Candles/matches
o Flashlights
o Extra Blankets
o First Aid kit
o Can Opener
o Radio
o Container of Water
o Non-Perishable food source (identify how much you
have available)
o Pet Food (opt)
o Ladders (opt)
o Extra Clothes that can be grabbed in an emergency
If you do not have any of the above—mark in a different
color where you would place them.
·
What Ifs…:Write
a paragraph or list in bullets your answer to the following questions:
o
If you had to leave your home in 5 min, what would
you pack and why?
o
If you were separated from your family, describe
what you would do in steps.
o
Describe if your family has any special considerations
and how you will deal with them.
Examples: an elderly relative lives with you, you have pets, you live in
more than one household, you have younger siblings that might hide if they’re
scared, etc.
After you
have completed all the above parts of this project, present your materials at a
family meeting or individually to everyone living in your house (pets
excluded). Have them sign below that
they have participated in the safety briefing.
Signatures:
Name: Relationship:
______________________ _______________________
______________________ _______________________
______________________ _______________________
Now it’s time for a one page research report!
Research one
of the following severe weather events that could affect Maryland:
§
Tornado
§
Hurricane
§
Ice
storm
§
Blizzard
§
Flood
§
Drought
·
General Information Research: The first paragraph should include:
ü
The
difference between a watch and a warning
ü
Season
it occurs
ü
Major
causes of injury and/or death
ü
What
conditions lead to the formation of the storm?
ü
Name
of the scale used to measure it and an explanation
·
Specific Event Research: The second paragraph should contain details of this type of
event that actually affected Maryland.
Please include:
ü
Location
ü
Date
and time
ü
Impact
on people
ü
Impact
on the area/land
ü
One
visual
·
You
must use at least 2 sources and write a bibliography using Noodletools. A few
suggestions for internet resources are:
Some Helpful
Online Sources:
·
Fema for Kids: http://www.fema.gov/kids/dizarea.htm
·
CDC
Natural Disasters & Weather Emergency Preparedness
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/
·
EPA
Natural Disasters & Weather Emergencies
http://www.epa.gov/naturalevents/
·
USA Today Online: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/default.htm
·
Maryland
Department of Natural Resources: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/
·
National
Climatic Data Center
http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms
·
Weather
Wiz Kids
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/
·
http://www.extremescience.com/
·
http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov/atmosphere/training/index.html
Rubric:
|
Part
|
Points
|
|
Safe
Location
|
/5
|
|
Out of
Area Contact
|
/5
|
|
Map of Gaithersburg
|
/10
|
|
Diagram
of Home
|
/15
|
|
What if
Answers
|
/15
|
|
Research
General Information
|
/10
|
|
Research
Specific Event
|
/10
|
|
Bibliography
|
/10
|
Total: _______ / 80
Tips for
a Successful Project:
·
Organize your information as you research!
·
Think graphic organizer or outline.
·
Record bibliography information as you work.
·
Pace yourself - don’t
wait until the last minute.
·
Ask if you have any questions.
·
Revise and edit your written work.
·
Turn in something you’re proud of!
