7th Grade - Catastrophic Events Family Activities/Resources

Catastrophic Events gives students the opportunity to explore processes behind storms, earthquakes, and volcanoes through the use of data, hands-on activities, simulations, and multimedia resources.

Science at Home: Check out a science DVD/video from the Seattle Public Library. Watch with the family and discuss:  NOVA - Wave That Shook the World – 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami  NOVA - Storm That Drowned a City- Hurricane Katrina  NOVA - Mystery of the Megavolcano – scientists track clues to an ancient supervolcano  NOVA - Mystery of the Megaflood – ice age floods in the Northwest  Cascadia: The Hidden Fire – earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest

Check a book out of the Seattle Public Library and read as a family:  Forces of Nature : The Awesome Power of Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tornadoes Grace, Catherine O'Neill. National Geographic Society, 2004  Earth's Weather and Climate Pipe, Jim. Gareth Stevens Pub., 2008

 Earth's Core and Crust Davis, Barbara J. Gareth Stevens Pub., 2007

Family Science Field Trips: Take a family field trip to explore earth science exhibits at a local museum, or visit a Washington volcano:

 Pacific Science Center www.pacificsciencecenter.org  Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/  Mount Rainier National Park www.nps.gov/mora/  Burke Museum of Natural History (UW) www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/

Online Resources:  Catastrophic Events Student Site: http://www.stcms.si.edu/ce/ce.htm This student/teacher site supplements the STC/MS™ Catastrophic Events curriculum

 USGS (U.S. Geological Service) Geology: http://geology.usgs.gov/ Earthquakes, volcanoes, links to interactive maps and real-time data

 Volcano World: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/ Virtual volcano field trips, activities, etc. from Oregon State University

 USGS Earthquakes for Kids: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/ Science Fair projects, Ask a Geologist, Earthquake ABC, Cool Earthquake Facts, etc

 PNSN (Pacific Northwest Seismic Network): http://www.pnsn.org/ Interactive northwest earthquake maps, recent quakes, live data

 NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): http://www.education.noaa.gov/students.html Websites for students – weather, climate change, oceans FAMILY SCIENCE GUIDE FOR PARENTS Seattle Public Schools, Gr. 6 – 12

Extending science outside the classroom can help support students in many ways. How can the family be more involved in science?

At Home

 Talk about science at home. Can your child explain to the family what is being learned in science class? Look at your child’s science notebook together.

 Encourage your child to ask questions about the world around them. Help them answer a question through observation, exploration, investigation, or research rather than giving them an answer.

 Ask your child about his/her opinion on a topic. Teach him/her to give evidence that supports their opinion.

 Discuss as a family ways to reduce energy use and increase composting and recycling at home. Follow news stories related to climate change and discuss the meaning of the phrase “Think Globally, Act Locally”.

 Use the Seattle Schools Pre K- 12 Inquiry-Based Science Program website to learn more about the science module currently being used in your child’s classroom. http://www.seattleschools.org/area/science/sciindexout.html

 Work on a science fair project at home. http://www.seattleschools.org/area/science/sciencefairs.html http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

 Practice taking state science assessments from the OSPI website: http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/wasl/testquestions.aspx

At School

 Volunteer in the science classroom. Help the teacher inventory science materials or prepare an investigation. Share a science-related career or hobby with students in the classroom.

 Volunteer to help establish recycling and waste reduction programs in your child’s school through King County’s Green Schools Program. http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/greenschools/index.asp

 Help your child’s school join the Cool School Challenge, a program of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Schools are encouraged to take small steps to reduce carbon emissions and learn about climate change. http://coolschoolchallenge.org/index.aspx In the Community

 Explore parks, natural areas, the local neighborhood, backyards and gardens. Observe, discuss and research natural phenomena.

 Treat the family to a one-year membership at a local science center, museum or zoo. Make frequent visits and take advantage of special exhibits and activities offered free to members. o Pacific Science Center www.pacsci.org/ o Woodland Park Zoo www.zoo.org o Burke Museum of Natural History www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/ o Seattle Aquarium www.seattleaquarium.org o Museum of Flight www.museumofflight.org

 Check the Seattle Times NW Weekend section every Thursday for science-related family activities, including nature walks, museum programs, volunteer projects and community events. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/datebook.html

 Encourage involvement in community projects that support scientific understanding and/or provide opportunities for volunteer work: o People for Puget Sound http://pugetsound.org/ o Earthcorps http://www.earthcorps.org/ o Salmon Watcher Program http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsandplants/salmon-and-trout/salmon- watchers.aspx o Seattle Adopt-a- Park http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Volunteers/adoptapark.htm

Electronic Resources:  A Family Guide to Science-Seattle: Information and local resources to help families in Seattle explore science. Listings for science centers, museums, nature centers, zoos, aquariums, local parks, and science organizations provide ideas for family outings and projects. http://www.tryscience.org/parents/se_2.html

 TryScience.org: Experiments, adventures, and field trip ideas for parents, teachers, and “scientists/engineers” (students). http://www.tryscience.org/home.html

 Exploratorium Science Museum: Science resources for families, including after-school science activities to do at home; science news and features; science “postcard exhibits”, and more. http://www.exploratorium.edu

 National Geographic: Science news, videos, and activities. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

 Discovery News: Science in the news. http://news.discovery.com/