Natural Hazard and Catastrophic Events Non-Fiction Children’s Book Project
Please read all the way through these directions BEFORE you begin. You should have no less than 10 terms used in your glossary. These terms should also be bolded and/or underlined in your book to make them easy to find. Be sure to number your pages as you go! I will ask you to turn in an outline by Friday for a daily grade. This book will be a major grade, with the final 5 points for neatness. Any student found copying text or pictures without properly citing them will at the very least lose ALL credit for that section. At most, a zero will be earned on the project, with a U in conduct. DO NOT COPY! Please see student handbook, page 44, for more information.
Cover: (3 points – Title, Author, Picture)
Title (Should be relevant to your topic and can be creative) & Author (this is you)
Creative graphic picture – this should be the best picture in the whole book, neat and colorful, and should use most of the page. Use map pencils or crayons. You may also create a collage of small pictures or print something out from your home computer. The back of the cover should be left blank.
P. 1 Table of Contents (6 points – List, Page numbers and each page is numbered)
This should tell the reader what is on each page. Remember to number your pages clearly.
P. 2 (9 points – three points for each concept defined and explained thoroughly)
Write a paragraph that explains what a natural hazard, catastrophic event, and your assigned natural hazard are. You will include these three terms in your glossary. Remember that this is a childrens book, not a dictionary.
P. 3 (6 points – neatly colored map, symbol that makes sense, key)
Where does the natural hazard usually take place? Include all areas (continents, countries, etc.) that experience your natural hazard/catastrophic event.
Draw a map and create a symbol to place your hazard on the locations where it occurs. You can also print a map at home and label it if you want. I can provide a world and a US map as well.
P. 4 (9 points)
What causes your natural hazard? Be specific and detailed. This should be multiple sentences and detailed enough to show your understanding. I do not want to see short answers here. For example, do not tell me thunderstorms cause tornadoes. HOW? *Any key terms should be defined in your glossary.
P. 5 (5 points – equipment, scale/criteria)
What equipment is used to warn, track, or measure your natural hazard? Can it be predicted, and if so, how far in advance? *These terms should also be reflected in your glossary. How is it categorized? Be sure to use the name of any scale that exists as well as how each level is determined. If there are no specific scales or instruments, what criteria are used to compare these events to one another? What do people use to rank them as far as severity? Example: What does it mean to be a CAT 5 or to use a Richter scale?
P. 6 (10 points)
Give an example of a specific catastrophic event caused by your natural hazard in recent (1980 or later) history and its location (What, when, where, how, why). What was the damage to lives, geography, environment and economy and what long lasting effect are there? Illustrate this event using 1/3 of your page and color with crayons or colored pencils. You may choose to print a picture as well. *Any key terms should also appear in your glossary. ****Many students lose credit here, so be careful and make sure you have answered all the questions above****
P. 7 (5 points)
How does the natural hazard affect erosion in the area it occurs? *Any key terms should be defined in your glossary. Include a picture that illustrates the information you have written. Use 1/3 of the page, and color with crayons or colored pencils. You may choose to print a picture as well.
P. 8 and 9 (10 points)
Create an emergency plan that is specific to your natural hazard. In other words, how should you and your family react to this kind of natural hazard in preparation for and after the event? You may find an emergency plan and copy it. Just be sure to give the author or author’s credit. Is there a particular group or agency that helps families deal with this hazard? Graphics of kits or photos can be used to help fill the space and inform the reader *Any key terms should be defined in your glossary.
P. 10 (7 points – one point per fact, 2 points for a picture)
Fast Facts (data)
Use this spot for other facts about your natural hazard. For example: how many times per year, how many countries are affected, what is the average cost etc. You could include data tables or graphs, or a bulleted list of facts. Include at least 5 facts not included somewhere else in your book. Illustrate your facts with a relevant picture. This can be drawn or printed off of your home computer. *Any key terms should be defined in your glossary.
P. 11 (10 points – one point per word)
Glossary of terms – Words should be bolded and in alphabetical order. Definitions should be detailed, not just a couple of words, but should be at a level a 3rd-5th grader can understand. You must have at least 10 words in the glossary that you have used in your book, including those from page 3. Remember that these terms should be bolded and/or underlined where they are found in the text. If you need more room, you may use page 12 and move the author page to the back cover.
P. 12 (10 points – 5 points for sources, 5 points for format)
Bibliography
On this page you should include any and all sources for your information. You must have at least 5 different sources for your information. You may use your textbook as one. The other four need to come from your research, and should include at least one library book. You may use http://citationmachine.net/ to help you. Please make sure that your citations are in APA format (half credit if not in APA format). Remember that Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source. More trustworthy sites include .gov, .edu or .org at the end, or are maintained by a well known organization such as the Red Cross or FEMA.
P. 13 (5 points)
Author page- be creative
Pretend you are an expert in studying this natural hazard. What is an expert in your field called? What is your training and background? Where do you work? What do you do? Include a picture of yourself. It can be an old school picture, or you may draw one. *Any key terms should be reflected in your glossary.
Overall neatness is that of a major project, not a homework assignment. (5 points)
Typing the passages will be okay; however, this easily lends itself to copying of text from websites and pasting it into Word. I will check. Don’t do it. You want this project to be something you would be proud for others to see and read.