Developing Scientifically-Literate and Caring Students through the Focus of Natural Disasters

It is of utmost importance to expose students to the current happenings in the world around us in an appropriate manner.  The students that I teach live in Fort Walton Beach, FL, so we are inherently familiar with the destruction that can be caused by hurricanes. In fact, Hurricane Ivan created mass destruction in our immediate area and it was a great opportunity to investigate the power of hurricanes in general.  The year that Ivan struck in 2004, we studied hurricanes intensely as a school to learn how a natural disaster happens and what can be done in the future to help prepare for the storm itself and the after effects. We learned together that it is very hard to bounce back from a hurricane, but that if everyone cooperates, it is a much easier process.  This was important because that next year, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.  Luckily, our area was not in the direct storm path, but the students at my school were well educated and aware of how this natural law of science could intensely impact lives.  Our school instantly wanted to help with the relief efforts, especially since we could relate so well due to our much smaller experience with Hurricane Ivan. 

We had a community connection to one of the elementary schools in Mississippi and the students really wanted to help.  At that same time, my mother, who teaches 4^th grade in Pennsylvania, contacted me and wanted to know if there was anything that could be done from her school.  We decided to team up with our two schools and raise money to take to the school for supplies.  Through working together, we raised over $3000 and collected a ton of books to give to the school in Mississippi. I was privileged enough to personally deliver it to the elementary school along with my principal and guidance counselor.  The people there were extremely gracious and the money was very much needed.  During my time there, I made a film documentary to bring back to the two schools to show the students how they had helped others.  It was not a very uplifting film to start since the devastation shown was so great.  However, the video ended with the money being delivered to the school and some interviews with the students, teachers, and principal there.  The kids were learning about the great sense of being partners in our community and in the United States.  It was rewarding for all that participated.

This past year, we had a similar experience. I had just finished teaching about tornadoes and the effects that can happen to the environment and people as a result.  We also have been doing many character lessons on being generous and caring through our school’s participation in the Civil Air Patrol Program. This was right before the devastating string of tornadoes that ravaged Alabama. When the students came to school the next day, they were determined to figure out how we could help the victims of the tornadoes, who were also our neighbors. We were about to engage in Penny Wars, a fundraiser to raise money for supplies for the teachers.  One of the teachers remembered that a former faculty member was currently teaching in Tuscaloosa. She contacted her and asked about the devastation of the tornado.  She learned that the school that she taught at in Tuscaloosa had been destroyed and that the teacher could only find and talk to two of her twenty students. The tornadoes had displaced the entire community.  The teacher that initially called to check on our former employee immediately returned to school and suggested that we use the Penny Wars funds to help the relief efforts in Alabama.  Once proposed to the faculty, it was unanimous!  We were going to dedicate this fundraiser to the students on Tuscaloosa. 

Our students were super excited to be helping others, especially having the background knowledge of the devastation that tornadoes can cause as well as what it takes to be a compassionate person.  They cleaned out their piggy banks, checked under the sofa, and did all the chores that they could to raise money towards this devastated school. As a school, we raised just over $1900 to send to the elementary school in Tuscaloosa. The experience was an awesome lesson in the power of being selfless and helping others.  Our students and faculty benefited, as well as the students and faculty in Alabama.  It was another win-win situation.

The key to developing scientifically-literate and caring students is to relate the lessons to real-life situations.  If the students can really understand the science first and how it relates to their world, they will be more inclined to help others.  We need to be sure to use the teachable moments in the face of tragedy and to encourage students to continue to find ways that they can help others, even if they are not sitting in the classroom next to them.  These real world experiences are how we help to create the next generation of a compassionate society.