HAZARDS AND DISASTERS
A natural hazard is a physical event, such as an earthquake or
a landslide. It becomes a disaster when humans are vulnerable and
when financial, structural, or human losses occur. Many natural
disasters have played out across newspaper headlines and television
screens in recent years, and students can display a range of reactions
to them. Generally, students are interested in learning how and
why these things happen. Opportunities abound to capture their interest
while teaching them science. This issue of Science Class
provides many examples of how colleagues teach their students important
lessons they need to know to be safe.
Hazards and Disasters in the News
Article summaries provided by the NSTA WebNews Digest (visit
for national news for science educators).
Stories based on this month’s theme discuss a range of natural
disasters, such as floods, tsunamis, and volcanoes.
to read more.
Hazards and Disasters on the Web
In this month's middle-level journal, Science Scope, NSTA
members can read "Waves and Tsunami Project" at http://www.nsta.org/gateway&j=ss&n=53455.
For the complete Science Scope March 2007 Illustrated Table
of Contents, visit http://www.nsta.org/gateway&j=ss&n=53481.
SciLinks® is a web-based service from NSTA that provides online
content chosen to augment printed articles and books. It does so
through keywords; the keyword for this issue is
Natural Hazards and Disasters: http://www.scilinks.org/retrieve_outside.asp?sl=92635655103310771011
Journal Articles on Natural
Hazards and Disasters
The NSTA journal archives have many ideas for teaching your students
the science behind natural disasters.
Click here to learn more:
To read about Natural Hazards and Disasters in NSTA Press®
and NSTA Recommends® books, visit http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-3/books_middle.htm.
To read about the newest titles available from NSTA Press, visithttp://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2007-03/newbooksmiddle.htm.To
receive the latest NSTA catalog for your specific grade level, visit
The following NSTA Symposia will take
place at the National Conference on Science Education
in St. Louis, Missouri, March 29 – April 1, 2007:
of Polar Climate Change on Living Systems, presented
by NSF, NASA, and NOAA
Climates, How Are They Changing?, presented by NSF,
NASA, and NOAA
Fragile Ice, presented by NSF, NASA, and NOAA
and Working in Space: Habitat, presented by NASA
and Geodesy for Dummies: Do You Know Where You Are?,
presented by NOAA
Safety and Nutrition, presented by the FDA
Stop Faking It!, presented by NSTA Press author
Teachers Hobble Science Studies
A recent story in the Sydney Morning
Herald reports "An aging workforce and rapid
advances in technology could have a serious impact on
the quality of science teaching, an analysis commissioned
by the [Australian] Federal Government warns. The study
concludes: 'It is probable that a significant proportion
of science teachers may be out of touch with contemporary
science and also lack the skills to change their teaching
to meet new challenges.'"
Click here to read more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/outoftouch-teachers-hobble-science-studies/2007/03/04/1172943275712.html
Science Scope (grades 69) has issued
a Call for Papers on selected topics. Click here to read more:
and Behavior in Organisms
If your colleagues would like to subscribe to Science Class,
please direct them to http://www.nsta.org/newsletters.
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