Purpose:

In this activity, students will create a comic book that illustrates the path of a water drop through the water cycle as described in the story "Natural Events Can Be Disasters".

Time Required:

• 2-3 class periods

Safety issues:

none

Materials:

• 8.5 x 11 or construction paper
• crayons, markers, pens, pencils for illustrating and writing comic
• copy of story for each group
• One story board or large piece of construction paper for each group
• note cards
• deck of playing cards (optional)

Procedure:

1. Separate class into groups of 2-4 students each. A deck of playing cards is an excellent way to randomly separate students into groups. Be sure to have the correct number of cards. This will depend on the number of students in your class. For groups of three with 30 students you would keep 3 each of the numbers 2-10 and 3 aces. Shuffle the cards and distribute them randomly. Then allow 2 minutes for students to form their groups by locating other students with the same number on their cards. Follow the same procedure for groups of 2 or 4.
2. Read the story to the students or have them take turns reading aloud.
3. Have groups select a portion of the story to illustrate. You may wish to print them on notecards and then ask a representative from each group to draw a card from a bag or box. Their choices should be:
   • a. Hurricane Andrew
   • b. Tornado
   • c. Lightning Strike
   • d. Lake
   • e. Sewer/Out to Sea
   • f. Gulf Stream
   • g. Underwater mountain range
   • h. Volcanoes
   • i. Snow over the mountains
   • j Tsunami
4. Have students discuss/brainstorm the main character, i.e. "the drop". The character will need a name, a standard depiction, and a personality. The students should come to class concensus regarding these issues and then proceed to illustrate their individual part of the story.
5. Each group is now responsible for creating a section of the "comic book". Within each group, decisions should be made regarding the whichever aspect of the cycle that the group is to depict/create. Be sure to identify the "required" elements for each section. Each section should contain:
   • a. The main character traveling through that particular part of the cycle/story.
   • b. Words and pictures depicting this journey. You may want to allow students to use magazines, newspapers, and clip art from the computer to create the story.
   • c. A minimum of 4 frames, each 1/4 of the paper provided. This can either be standard 8.5 by 11 or construction paper.
   • d. All vocabulary from the story must be used in each comic book section.
6. Once finished, each group should present their finished products to the class.
7. Mount the story boards, in order, on a bulletin board.

Assessment:

Create a study guide of the hydrologic cycle using the information provided by the storyboards. Give a test on the material.

Extensions:

Have students use a computer program to create their comics. Suggestions include Hyperstudio or Hypercard.

Internet Links:

Background:

Natural disasters are any number of catastrophic occurrences in nature, often resulting in misfortune (suffering and loss) and widespread destruction. Some examples of natural disasters are earthquakes, tsunamis (tidal waves), volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, typhoons, and meteorite impacts. The management of natural disasters has improved over the last two decades, but we will always be at the mercy of these intrepid forces of nature. We certainly cannot stop them from happening and most certainly should be humbled by them.

Key Words:

• Tidal waves
• tornadoes
• cyclones
• earthquakes
• floods
• tsunamis
• avalanches
• typhoons
• volcanoes
• hurricanes
• mudslides
• wildfire