Unit 8: Natural Disaster Risk in NYC

Unit Description 

As human populations grow and continue to migrate across the Earth, it is important that we use our understanding of why and how natural disasters take place to identify which populations are most at risk, so that measures can be taken to minimize loss of life and property. In this unit students will revisit tectonic plate boundaries when they observe and analyze earthquake activity data associated with a range of fault lines across the globe. After identifying trends in earthquake activity associated with different types of faults, students will analyze an ambiguous fault line in Bangladesh to make an evidence-based claim about what kind of plate boundary is present there and assess earthquake risk in the region. Students will also evaluate the risk of various natural disasters in NYC, and learn about effective emergency preparedness.

Unit Essential Questions

Can climate change impact the occurrence of natural disasters such as hurricanes, volcano explosions, and earthquakes?

How can we use what we know about natural disasters to predict how likely they are to happen in New York City?

What can we do to prepare for natural disasters in order to minimize loss of life and property?

Key Lab Components

Energy from and Earthquake

Construct a Simple Seismometer 

Finding and Epicenter