Welcome students to the unit on natural disasters! It’s important that we understand what natural disasters are and how they affect the world. By the end of this unit, we’ll be able to identify common natural disasters and explain what we can do to reduce the risk of negative effects they may have on the environment and people.

To get started, let’s take a look at a definition of a natural disaster. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a natural disaster is “an event that occurs naturally and causes great damage, loss of life, or personal injury.” We will now watch a short video clip from NOAA explaining what natural disasters are.

MAIN TASK: After watching the video clip, divide into pairs or small discussion groups and come up with three natural disasters you know. Be prepared to share your list with the rest of the class.