Cyclone Yasi
Focus Questions
1. Cyclone Yasi was classified as a category ____ storm.
2. What is the highest category of cyclone?
3. What lessons did Cyclone Larry teach North Queensland?
4. How did people and communities prepare for Cyclone Yasi?
5. What are the effects on farming and agriculture?
6. Describe the images in the BtN Cyclone story.
7. Why does it take a long time to recover from a natural disaster?
8. What sorts of things need to be rebuilt?
9. How did this story make you feel?
10. Write a message of support and post it on the BtN Guestbook.
Investigating cyclones
Find out what students know about cyclones by having a class discussion. Record their responses.
In groups of 3-4, ask students to discuss and record the short and long term needs of people affected by Cyclone Yasi. Include both physical and emotional needs.
Students will investigate one or more key questions about tropical cyclones. Working in pairs or small groups, students can generate their own questions to investigate or the use the following questions to guide their research.
· Which areas in Australia are at the greatest risk of cyclones?
· What is the difference between a cyclone in the southern hemisphere and a cyclone in the northern hemisphere?
· Why do cyclones have eyes and what happens in the eye of a cyclone?
· How does air pressure help to create a cyclone?
· Why don’t tropical cyclones form around the equator?
· Why and how are tropical cyclone names chosen?
· What is a storm surge and how do they relate to cyclones?
· What are some ways people can protect themselves during the different stages of a cyclone?
· What do you think are the most effective ways of helping people who have been affected by a cyclone?
Discuss with students ways of publishing their research findings. These could include:
· Digital/multimedia presentation
· Oral report
· An animation
· Brochure
About your research
Students will be reflecting on the research process by responding to the following questions:
Briefly explain how you planned your research for this investigation.
How did you record your notes from each resource?
How could you improve or develop your information?
Further investigations
Design a model house that is flood proof and can withstand winds of over 200 km/hr. Combine design features and building materials that could survive a cyclone. Draw and label a sketch of your design.
Write a narrative about the impact of Cyclone Yasi on a community.
Design and produce a poster to support aid to communities affected by Cyclone Yasi.
8 Related Research Links
ABC News – Cyclone Yasi
http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/yasi/
ABC News – Cyclone Yasi: Photo gallery
http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/cyclone-yasi/gallery.htm
ABC News -`It’s just too hard’: Yasi leaves farmers reeling
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/04/3129977.htm
ABC News – Tropical cyclones explained
http://www.abc.net.au/emergency/cyclone/yasi/
ABC News – Anatomy of a cyclone
http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/cyclone-season-2010-2011/anatomy.htm
ABC Behind the News – Cyclones
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/v3/stories/s1594051.htm
Bureau of Meteorology – About tropical cyclones
http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/about/about-tropical-cyclones.shtml
Bureau of Meteorology – Cyclones: Frequently asked questions
http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/faq/index.shtml
© ABC 2011