education

Senior Natural Disasters Program

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Second Nature Education offers an amazing variety of educational and experiential programs to locations historically affected by natural disasters, volcanoes, science centres, research centres and warning centres across: Queensland and New South Wales; throughout Australia; and overseas.

All our programs are either tailored to support relevant units within the new curriculum, or as specifically requested by our clients.

What we provide

  • Award-winning educators/ facilitators
  • Itineraries and Flyers
  • Curriculum-based work-booklets
  • All relevant equipment (supplying up to 150x students per session)
  • Example assessment tasks
  • Pre/Post Excursion Activities (usually a PPP)
  • Risk Assessment (location specific)
  • Variety of field-work locations (where available)
  • Accommodation options (we provide quotes to utilise the most affordable and most appropriate accommodation to suit your needs)
  • Catering options (we provide quotes to utilise our own in-house catering service for every excursion (where available) and/or catering through a third-party provider

Senior School (Yr 11-12) Programs

Our “Natural Disasters” programs for years 11-12 have been specifically developed for units of study in Geography as well as Earth and Environmental Science. Each can however be tailored to a school’s needs. The programs are great fun and involve the in-depth study of an Earth hazard (e.g. volcanic eruption, tsunami, earthquake, etc.) with the use of a site-specific case study. Students learn about the Earth processes that generate the hazard, the likely (or historical) impacts of the hazard and the warning systems (and infrastructure) in place to minimise these impacts. They hear from earth scientists, seismologists and/or geologists about new research on natural disasters and may have the opportunity to visit research centres where this research is taking place! Our “Natural Disasters” programs are delivered by passionate facilitators with specialist knowledge on earth and environmental science. The experiences can be delivered to complement the following units or modules:

Geography

  • Year 11 Responding to Risk and Vulnerability in Hazard Zones (QLD)
  • Year 11 Hazards and Disasters (VIC)
  • Year 11 Global Challenges (NSW)

Earth and Environmental Science

  • Year 11 Earth Processes (QLD)
  • Year 11 Plate Tectonics (NSW)
  • Year 12 The Changing Earth (QLD)

Trip Overview

Natural disasters are associated with complex natural processes. Although modern technology cannot control the forces that lead to such widespread destruction, new discoveries in seismology and earth science are leading mankind to more accurate predictions of when and how dramatically a hazard will take hold. On this adventure, you will learn about an earth hazard and the natural processes that augment it. You will study this hazard in the context of a city that has historically been affected by a natural disaster.

Highlights

  • Hiking a volcano! (where applicable)
  • Visiting science (or research) centres for practical demonstrations of earth processes
  • Speaking with scientists about cutting edge research in the field of natural disasters
  • Speaking to locals who may have lived through or been affected by a natural disaster
  • Providing assistance to communities affected by a natural disaster (where applicable)

More Information

Inclusions

Excursions

  • Use of maps and seismometer readings (P and S waves) to locate the epicenter of an earthquake (where applicable)
  • Use of maps and spatial data to determine the extent of a natural disaster
  • Practical demonstrations of earth hazards using science (or research) centre facilities!
  • Learning about warning systems and infrastructure in place to minimise damage caused by the chosen natural disaster
  • Interviewing locals about how the natural disaster affected them and/or their community
  • Hiking a volcano (where applicable)
  • Visiting areas of extensive flood or earthquake damage (where applicable)
  • Providing assistance to communities affected by a natural disaster (where applicable)

Incursions

  • An age-appropriate interactive PowerPoint presentation
  • A discussion of: earth processes that generate a natural hazard; the impacts of this hazard on humans and the environment; and the warning systems (and infrastructure) in place to minimise these impacts.
  • Depth study of a natural disaster that once affected a local community
  • Talk from an earth scientist, seismologist or geologist about their research on the subject of natural disasters.
  • Game: “Tectonic Plates puzzle”
  • Quiz (with prizes!) to assess comprehension
Educational Outcomes
  • An understanding of how tectonic and other Earth processes work including how these can lead to natural disasters
  • Skills in identifying the source and causes of a natural disaster
  • Knowledge of methods for measuring the severity of natural disasters (e.g. Richter scale)
  • Awareness and knowledge of the impacts of natural disasters on social activity, politics, the economy and the environment on a local and global scale
  • Empathy and compassion for the victims and survivors of natural disasters
  • Knowledge of technology that enables humankind to predict when and how dramatically natural disasters will occur
  • Knowledge of warning systems and infrastructure in place to protect human societies from natural disasters
  • A feeling of connection and stewardship towards the natural environment
Itinerary

Below is an example itinerary for a 1-day “Natural Disasters” excursion. All excursion packages include the necessary work booklets and equipment.

09:00 Tour group pick- Second Nature have a fleet of vehicles available to cater for any number of passengers (within reason). We can provide transport to and from schools and airports
09:30 Arrive at Science Centre for Information Session 1 Students will enter a science centre at their closest major city to visit a section dedicated to natural disasters. Your guides will explain how earth processes generate a specific kind of natural disaster and attempt to demonstrate using interactive exhibits (for example, “Earth Quake Lab” can be found at Questacon in Canberra)
10:00 Morning tea at the science centre. Students will have a chance to wander around some of the other exhibits if they please
10.45 Information Session 2 Talk from an earth scientist, geologist or seismologist about their (current, often unpublished) research on the natural disaster under study
11:15 Depart Science Centre for a Site Damaged by an Earth Hazard
12:00 Arrive at Site Damaged by an Earth Hazard. Lunch
13:00 Activity Session 3 Students will be given a tour of the site, taking down observations in regard to damage caused by the relevant Earth hazard. They will have a chance to interview local business owners and residents about how they were affected by a recent (or historical) natural disaster
14:00 Depart destination, back to school or airport
15:00 Arrive back at school or airport when required
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