Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Research Pack – Build Critical Thinking and Scientific Inquiry!

Unleash your students’ curiosity and empower them to explore how our planet responds in extreme and unpredictable ways with our Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Research Pack. This comprehensive resource invites students to investigate real-world events, deepen their understanding of Earth's powerful forces, and apply their learning through structured, scaffolded research activities.

Designed to align with science and geography curriculum standards, this pack guides students through independent inquiry while offering consistent templates and tools to help them record, organise, and reflect on their learning.

Key Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Events Covered:

• Cyclones
• Earthquakes
• Tsunamis
• Droughts
• Floods
• Fires

Whether you’re focusing on one event or comparing multiple disasters, your students will gain insights into both natural processes and human responses.

Each Section Includes:

• KWHL Chart – Activate prior knowledge and set learning goals
• Alphabet Key – Expand vocabulary and spark new questions
• Venn Diagram – Compare and contrast disaster types or impacts
• Before / During / After Flap Page – Organise information and understand sequences
• Data Exploration – Can we measure this disaster? How? Why does it matter?
• Disaster Management Plan – Think critically about how communities prepare and respond
• Interactive Notebook Flaps (INB) – Breakdown:

- What is it?

ata-start="1897" data-end="1900" />>- What causes it?

ss="yoast-text-mark" data-start="1918" data-end="1921" />>- How can we stay safe?

>- What are the environmental effects?

• Are / Have / Can Chart – Summarise features of each disaster
• 3-2-1 Response Organiser – Reflect with facts, questions, and key takeaways
• I See – I Think – I Wonder – Promote observation and inference skills
• Note-Taking Pages – Encourage effective research habits
• Image Analysis Template – Collect and annotate images with a purpose
• Mapping Task – Locate where disasters occur globally

Some disaster sections include bonus activities and templates tailored to the event type!

Assessment Made Easy

A clear and student-friendly rubric is included to guide expectations and provide meaningful feedback. Share it with your students upfront so they know how to aim high with their research.

This resource is perfect for:

• Inquiry-based learning
• Earth and space science units
• Geography and environmental studies
• Literacy integration through research and reporting
• STEM and cross-curricular projects

Please Note:

This product is for personal classroom use only. To share it with others or use it across multiple classrooms, please purchase additional licenses. Unauthorised distribution or copying is not permitted.

Be sure to download the preview for a detailed look at what’s included. You’ll see exactly how this resource supports meaningful research, critical thinking, and student-led learning.

Ready to help your students become informed, empathetic, and curious global citizens?

Download the Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Research Pack from Paula’s Place today!