1. Natural Disaster Independent Study Project

2. You will choose a natural disaster that interests you. It can be a hurricane, tornado, tsunami, etc… anything that you want to find out more about. Using The Big Six research model, you will conduct your research and gather information. You will then use this information to create a project and presentation of your choosing to present to our class. This will be a major grade.

3. Note to parents- Project Chosen__________________________ Dear parents and students, We started an independent study project about Natural Disasters this week. The final project will be due on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. The project has been discussed in class and the students have been given an option as to which project they would like to complete. They will be given some class time to do the research, however, the bulk of the project will need to be done at home and brought to school on or before the final due date. I have attached the rubric of the project your child chose so you and your child can discuss the requirements for this project. This is worth one major grade. FIVE points will be deducted for each day that it is late. Please encourage your child to do their best work on the “at home parts”. Presentations will begin on Tuesday, May 26th. Thanks for all your support, 4 th Grade Teachers

4. Your choices- Night of the Twisters Choose one of the projects mentioned below and complete the assignment. Consult the rubric for the assignment to make sure you are completing your project correctly. 1. Comic Strip: Design an 8-pane comic strip of the novel Night of the Twisters. It should accurately tell the main events of the story, through the use of illustrations (pictures) and dialog (words). You must also include 5 interesting facts you researched about tornados. Be creative. 2. Story Book: Design an 8-page fictional story of a tornado or any natural disaster (one that you make up, not a retelling of the novel), including a front cover, 8 pages of story, and a back cover with a summary of the story. You must also include 5 interesting facts you researched about your natural disaster. Be creative. 3. Poem or Song: Write a poem or a song about Night of the Twisters or about a fictional natural disaster (one that you make up). If you write a song, you can use the melody of a familiar song. Submit the lyrics in writing and say or sing the poem/song during a presentation. You must also include 5 interesting facts you researched about your natural disaster. Be creative.

5. Your choices continued… 4. Natural Disaster Research Poster: Research and learn about any Natural Disaster. Make a poster to present to the class. It must contain 10 interesting things you learned about the Natural Disaster. It must have 5 pictures/graphs/diagrams. Then write a 1 page, informational composition, to turn in, about the Natural Disaster and its impact (effect) on people and their communities. 5. Natural Disaster Research Power Point: Research and learn about any Natural Disaster. Make a power point to present to the class. It must contain 10 interesting things you learned about the Natural Disaster you chose. It must have 5 pictures/graphs/diagrams. Then write a 1 page, informational composition, to turn in, about the Natural Disaster and its impact (effect) on people and their communities. 6. Diorama: You may choose to make ONE diorama of BOTH Dan and Mrs. Smiley’s houses. It must show how the tornado affected each house differently. You must include a Venn diagram showing the similarities and differences of the effects of the tornado. Find a creative way to include 5 interesting facts you researched about tornados in the diorama. Use labels to explain everything.

6. To view grading rubrics for each project, please download from the website.