Lesson Cycle

Lesson Title/Topic: Hurricanes

Concept: Geography

Standards/Rationale: TEKS 3rd Grade Geography 3.4

Learning Target: Assessment:

The student will correctly describe in their Authentic Assessment: Journal Activity
What Im Learning journal, the effects of a
hurricane on a landscape in 3 sentences.

Materials: Search for Words handout, What Happens After a Hurricane? slideshow, iPad with
Educreation App

Lesson Cycle: (Direct instruction)

The teacher will: The student will:

Focus/Mental Set:
Give each student the Search for Words
handout and instruct them to work on it
with a partner. As they find the words,
discuss with their partner what they think
the words mean.
Complete the Search for Words handout
with a partner and discuss with them what
they think the words mean.
Identify words they dont know.

After 3 minutes of Search for Words ask

the children to put down their pencils. Ask
What is a word you havent seen before?
What do you think it means?
Teacher Input:
Play Hurricane video
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=uw-ts4TvcsY)
Lead discussion relating what
students saw in the video to words
found on handout
Ask students about any personal
experience with hurricanes. Limit
to 2-3 speakers.
Show What Happens After a
Hurricane? slideshow. Point out
how the landscape and buildings
Watch Hurricane Video
Interpret new vocabulary relating to
hurricane in vocabulary discussion
Share personal stories of
involvement in a hurricane event
Watch What Happens After a
Hurricane? slideshow
Practice an evacuation speech,
pretending what they would say if
they were the governor of a state
about to be hit by a hurricane. The
students will split into 4 groups,
each group meeting and discussing
 are affected. (ex. knocked over in one corner of the room. They
trees, flooded streets, destroyed will brain storm and practice for 2
buildings) minutes, then one student will
Separate students into 4 even explain their groups speech.
groups. Each group will pretend Return to seats after speech.
they are the governor of a state
about to be hit by a hurricane. They
will prepare a speech as if it was
going to be broadcasted on live TV.
Instigate questions they may want
to address about safety, security,
and remaining calm and civil. What
emotions would they want to
convey? How would you go about
evacuating everyone?

Guided Practice: Open Educreation App on iPad and

Instruct students to open draw as directed.
Educreation App and select
Coordinate Grid option so there are
four squares for drawing. Number
squares 1-4.
Have students draw in square one
(top left) what the ocean looks like
during a hurricane. In square two
(top right), have students draw what
they think a city or town looks like
during a hurricane. Encourage
students to draw buildings, trees,
etc. In square 3 (bottom left) have
students draw what they think the
ocean will look like after a
hurricane. In square 4 (bottom
right) have students draw what they
think a city or town would look like
after a hurricane. Remind students
of vocabulary from Search for
Words worksheet and encourage
them to translate them into their
drawings.

Independent Practice: Write in journals a minimum of

Instruct students to write in their three sentences of what a hurricane
journal a minimum of three is and what effects on the physical
sentences on what a hurricane is environment they cause.
 and what effects on the physical
environment they cause.

Closure: Share with their partners their ideas

Have students discuss with a on how to stay safe during a
partner their ideas on how to stay hurricane.
safe during a hurricane

References:
Hurricane Video: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw-ts4TvcsY)

Educreation App

Activity Fun eWorkbook by Sylvia & Pat