Natural Disaster Jeopardy

Purpose:
Natural Disaster Jeopardy is a game of chance in which participants/students attempt to respond, in question format, various answers relating to types of natural disasters, cause and effects, course of action, source of help/management, etc.

Prerequisites:
  • Familiarity with the article "Natural Disasters," published in Interactive Teacher
  • Knowledge of the game show, Jeopardy
  • Students should be familiar with the types of disasters mentioned in the background, however, it can be tailored to meet with teacher specified learning objectives.


Learning Outcomes: Post this activity Students will...
  • Learn what are natural disasters
  • Learn the cause and effects of natural disasters
  • Learn geographical occurrences
  • Develop interpersonal skills through cooperative learning

Time Required:
  • 1 class period

Safety issues:
none
Materials:

Procedure:
  1. Using the Word Map master, create a map for each natural disaster involved. This activity can be done with students to develop or enhance concept and/or vocabulary recognition. This strategy helps students
    • activate background knowledge about a new concept
    • elaborate meanings of words
    • expand word meanings and see relationships
    • increase vocabulary and master key concepts
    • learn vocabulary independently
  2. Then use the Concept Definition Map to elaborate further. This strategy helps students
    • understand qualities of definition
    • visualize components of a definition
    • organize information
    • see relationships to from rich understanding
    • review and internalize concepts
    • master unfamiliar concepts independently
  3. Once you have developed your topics and related issues, create the answer pool and organize students into groups.
  4. Each group should have a captain (who will also serve as spokesperson for selection and answering of questions) and a scorekeeper.
  5. Game Board:
    • The game board should consist of no more than six categories of five Each subcategory should be denoted by a dollar value for the purposes of keeping score. Each group accrues points by responding correctly. Points are loss if the group responds incorrectly or runs out of time.
  6. Answer/Questions:
    • In jeopardy, you are given the answer and then must respond with a question.
    • If the group is unable to respond, they may pass at no penalty other than the loss of a turn. Only one pass is allowed per round.
  7. Timer:
    • The timer starts running when the category and amount is selected.
    • Each group will have 20 seconds to select a category and respond. The time doubles for daily doubles and final jeopardy rounds.
  8. Daily Double:
    • There is one daily double hidden in the first round, and two in the double jeopardy round. There are three ways to set th œe amount you want to risk on the Daily Double. The minimum bet is 1. The maximum is either the group's current score, or the maximum amount on the board (500 in the first round, 1,000 in the second). Each group will have 40 seconds to select a choice and respond.
  9. Double Jeopardy:
    • Same as the first round, except there are two Daily Doubles, and the dollar amounts are twice as large.
    • If you have a negative or zero score, you can still play.
  10. Final Jeopardy:
    • The group that has zero or a negative score at the end of double jeopardy, is out of the game.
    • Read the final category and have each group choose the dollar amount they wish to wager. A wager of zero is permitted.
    • Once the wager has been entered, read the final jeopardy clue. Each group will have 40 seconds to respond.
  11. Winner:
    • The group with the highest dollar amount at the end of the final jeopardy round, wins.

Assessment:
  • Evaluate quality and scope of instruction
  • Assess teamwork (group interaction and task distribution)
  • Comprehension of article
  • Accuracy of answers correctly questioned

Extensions:
Have students use a computer program to create their comics. Some possible programs are 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