This material was developed and reviewed through the InTeGrate curricular materials development process. This rigorous, structured process includes:
- team-based development to ensure materials are appropriate across multiple educational settings.
- multiple iterative reviews and feedback cycles through the course of material development with input to the authoring team from both project editors and an external assessment team.
- real in-class testing of materials in at least 3 institutions with external review of student assessment data.
- multiple reviews to ensure the materials meet the InTeGrate materials rubric which codifies best practices in curricular development, student assessment and pedagogic techniques.
- review by external experts for accuracy of the science content.
Initial Publication Date: August 15, 2014
Summary
Making the difficult decision to evacuate before a hurricane makes landfall can save lives and property. This two week module explores how hurricanes connect the ocean-atmosphere-terrestrial systems and society. Students evaluate how hurricane hazards and risks have changed with coastal development. Students use data to track historic hurricanes and compare the impacts from different hurricanes. The module culminates in a role-playing activity in which students identify and represent stakeholders facing hypothetical hurricane evacuation in their town.
Strengths of the Module
Students develop their ability to incorporate systems thinking: hurricanes form as the atmosphere and ocean interact, release energy along the ocean-land boundary and impact human lives and economies on the coast and many miles inland. See this activity for an example of systems thinking.
Students make sense of complex and uncertain data. Using historical records of hurricanes, individual hurricane tracks, recurrence intervals for different locations, flood records, and remote sensing data, students learn many methods of the geoscientist. The module includes links to additional data so instructors may tailor exercises by location or for the most recent hurricanes. For example, see these data-rich activities.
Students learn crucial skills for interdisciplinary problem-solving. The module culminates with students evaluating multiple perspectives and recommending action in the face of an approaching hurricane. See this role-playing activity for an example.
A great fit for courses in:
- Earth science
- environmental science
- oceanography
- natural hazards
- global change
- sustainability science
- atmospheric science
- environmental studies
This module is designed for introductory or intermediate students who are potential earth science majors, undecided, or general education students at a variety of university-level institutions. Some of the materials could be used at a more advanced level or extended look at the impacts of hurricanes. These materials have been used as a two-week module of geoscience and marine and atmospheric science courses. However, any of the activities could be used independently. Activities can be used in class or lab, as homework, or online with small or large classes. Materials are designed with particular emphasis on societal relevance. Several of the activities demonstrate and give students experience working with real data. Recent examples are used, and many links to data sources are given so future instructors can adapt the materials with the latest examples.
Supported community developed, nationally-recognized Earth Science Literacy Principles :
- Earth Science Literacy Big Idea 1: Earth scientists use repeatable observations and testable ideas to understand and explain our planet
- Earth Science Literacy Big Idea 3: Earth is a complex system of interacting rock, water, air, and life.
- Earth Science Literacy Big Idea 4 and Atmospheric principle 4: Earth is continuously changing.
- Earth Science Literacy Big Idea 8: Natural hazards pose risks to humans.
- Earth Science Literacy Big Idea 9: Humans significantly alter Earth when they look at changing risks as population and infrastructure increase.
Supported community developed, nationally-recognized Ocean Science Literacy Principles :
- Ocean Science Literacy Principle 3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
- Ocean Science Literacy Principle 6: The oceans and humans are inextricably linked.
Addressed community developed, nationally-recognized Atmospheric Science Literacy Principles :
- Atmospheric Science Literacy Principle 6: We seek to understand the past, present and future behavior of Earth's atmosphere through scientific observation and reasoning.
- Atmospheric Science Literacy Principle 7: Earth's atmosphere and humans are inextricably linked.
Instructor Stories: How this module was adapted
for use at several institutions »
Learn More
Hide
Download
Download a zip file that includes all the web pages and downloadable files from the instructor's materials
Lisa Gilbert (Williams College)
Joan Ramage (Lehigh University) 
