Tsunami Student Activity
The following tsunami worksheets have been created to provide an interactive activity with online California tsunami hazard maps. The lessons are targeted for use at 6th grade or higher grade level. These two activities provide students with real world applications using science based hazard maps. The following California Earth Science Content Standards are reinforced in these lessons:
- Grade 6: 1d, 1e, 2d, 7f
- Grade 7: 4b
- Grades 9-12: Standard Set 9, California Geology 9b, 9d; Investigation and Experimentation, 1d, 1h, 1m
Both activities provide step-by-step instructions on how to access tsunami hazard maps. The difference between the two worksheets is that each one explores a different government website. Each website has a different format and appearance; however, tsunami hazard maps and hazard information at both websites are based on the same scientific information. We strongly encourage the use of these worksheets both in the classroom, and as a take-home assignment, involving a parent or other adult family member to help facilitate the knowledge of tsunami awareness and preparedness in California.
The lesson that utilizes the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA) website directs the student (or other user) to the CalEMA “My Hazards” webpage. The lesson directs the student to the tsunami webpages, but the CalEMA website can be used to provide information on the occurrence of earthquakes, floods, fires, or tsunamis anywhere in California.
The California Geological Survey (CGS) lesson directs the student directly to the maps that are distributed for statewide emergency response planning. The tsunami maps on this website utilize the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic map series and can be used in conjunction with other topographic maps [Note to teachers: the TopoQuest website provides free access to online U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps that can be downloaded and compared to the tsunami maps on the CGS website.] Within the exercise, every county index page contains links to information about what to do if you live, visit or work within a tsunami inundation zone.
We strongly encourage the use of these activities as a take-home assignment, involving a parent or other adult family member to help facilitate the knowledge of tsunami awareness and preparedness in California.
Download and Print
Kids Activity Sheets and Booklets
Pacific Tsunami Museum Student Corner - http://www.tsunami.org/students.html
Tsunami trivia game - http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/docs/Tsunami-Trivia.pdf
Tsunami word search - http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/wordsearch.html
Tsunami, The Great Waves brochure (6-12) - http://ioc3.unesco.org/itic/files/great_waves_en_small.pdf
Worksheets/Curriculum
Grades 6-12
CGS Tsunami Inundation Map Worksheet (6-12) - http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Documents/CA_Tsun_CGS_lesson.pdf
CalEMA Tsunami Inundation Map Worksheet (6-12) - http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Documents/CA_Tsun_CalEMA_lesson.pdf
Create Your Own Tsunami - http://mceer.buffalo.edu/infoservice/Education/makeTsunamiDirections.asp
NAGT Waves and Tsunami Project - http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/teachingmaterials/11382.html
NOAA Fetch Me a Wave - http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03portland/background/edu/media/portlandfetch.pdf
Alaska Tsunami Education Program/Worksheets (9-12) - http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/9-12Lessons.html
Alaska Tsunami Education Program/Worksheets (5-8) - http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/5-8Lessons.html
Alaska Tsunami Education Program Google Earth activity (9-12) - http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/GIT_exercises/9-12GIT.html
Alaska Tsunami Education Program Google Earth activity (5-8) - http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/GIT_exercises/5-8GIT.html
Univ. Alaska STEP Curricula Resources (includes ATEP): - http://www.gi.alaska.edu/step/nav_curriculum_earth_tsunami.html
Tsunami Surge Lesson Plans/Worksheets (6-12) - http://www.ciese.org/curriculum/tsunami/teacherlessons/
Tsunami Worksheet - http://www.geo.utep.edu/pub/bkonter/education/Lab9_Tsunami_Classroom_Exercise.pdf
Glencoe Tsunami Geography worksheet - http://www.glencoe.com/qe/qe27.php?st=158&pt=2&bk=9
Tsunamis-Walls of Water, module/exercises - http://www.ig.utexas.edu/outreach/cataclysms/modules.htm
Tsunami (7-12) Curriculum - http://ioc3.unesco.org/itic/categories.php?category_no=158
Tsunami Text (9-12) - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/emedia_chap4.pdf
Tsunami Unit (5-8) - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/5_8_book.pdf
Tsunami Preparedness - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/emedia_chap6.pdf
Waves of Destruction - http://www2.vims.edu/bridge/DATA.cfm?Bridge_Location=archive0105.html
Seismic Sleuths earthquake activity sheets - http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3558
Discovery Education Lesson Plan, Understanding Tsunamis (6-8) - http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/tsunami/
Tsunami Surge Lesson Plans/Worksheets - http://www.ciese.org/curriculum/tsunami/teacherguide.shtml
Tsunami in a Box (6-12) - http://www.geo.utep.edu/pub/bkonter/education/Lab9_Tsunamis.pdf
Tsunami Waves Activity (6-12) - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/Sue%20Na%20Meter.pdf
Tsunami Wave Propagation (6-12) - http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/science/tsunamis.html
Tsunamis: Know what to do (6-8) - http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/kids/6-8_Worksheet_Final.pdf
Discovery Ed Lesson plan/activity (6-8) - http://ideas.aetn.org/edweb/ATI/2005/July/Survivors/PDFs/Tsunami%20TG.pdf
Monster Waves Tabletop Village (6-8) - http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/disaster/monster.html
Tsunami Coming (K-4) - http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/GIT_exercises/k-4_TsunamiComing.pdf
Tsunami (K-6) Curriculum - http://ioc3.unesco.org/itic/categories.php?category_no=158
Discovery Ed Lesson plan/activity - http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/dynamicearth/
Alaska Tsunami Education Program/Worksheets (5-8) - http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/5-8Lessons.html
Alaska Tsunami Education Program/Worksheets (K-4) - http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/k-4Lessons.html
Alaska Tsunami Education Program activity (K-4) - http://www.aktsunami.com/lessons/GIT_exercises/k-4GIT.html
Let’s Make Waves (3-5) - http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/ocean/wave.html
Warning Signs (K-4) - http://www.gi.alaska.edu/STEP/lessons_database/lessons/atep/atep_k4_WarningSignsNatureAndTechnology.pdf
Wave Heights (3-5) - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g35/wavesheights.html
Tsunami Unit (2-4) includes worksheets - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/2_4_book.pdf
Tsunami Unit (5-8) includes worksheets - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/5_8_book.pdf
Tsunamis (PreK-1) - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/prebook.pdf
Tsunami Preparedness - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/emedia_chap6.pdf
Tsunamis Know What to Do! worksheets (3-5) - http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/oes/ready/kids/3-5_Worksheet_Final.pdf
Tsunamis, make a book (3-5) - http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tsunami/lesson-plan/3615.html
Tremor Troop (K-6) earthquake activities - http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1632
Introduction to Waves lesson plan (K-2) - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/gk2/wavesintro.html
Wave Bottle (PreK -2) - http://www.teachervision.fen.com/science/lesson-plan/2545.html
General Tsunami Education
California Geological Survey - http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Inundation_Maps/Pages/Index.aspx
CalEMA MyHazards - http://myhazards.calema.ca.gov/
USGS Education Resources - http://education.usgs.gov/index.html
USGS Educational Videos and Animations - http://education.usgs.gov/common/video_animation.htm
NOAA Tsuanmi Education Resource Kit - http://www.oesd.noaa.gov/TERK/tsunami_ready_educationcd/start_here.html#cur
NOAA Tsunami Education Resources - http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/teacher-resources.html
NOAA Tsunami - http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/
NOAA Education - http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/education.html#kids
NOAA FAQ - http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/faq.php#4
Ready America/FEMA - http://www.ready.gov/tsunamis
FEMA Kids - http://www.fema.gov/kids/tsunami.htm
Univ. Alaska Tsunami Information - http://www.aktsunami.com/
Pacific Tsunami Museum - http://www.tsunami.org/
Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group - http://www.humboldt.edu/rctwg/
Tsunami Research Center, University of Southern California - http://www.tsunamiresearchcenter.com/
International Tsunami Information Center - http://itic.ioc-unesco.org/index.php