Teach Students About Recovery and Aid Through FEMA Lesson Plan Ideas

In light of natural disasters and the impending hurricane season, teaching about natural disasters is just as important as natural disaster recovery and aid.

In most cases, the government provides assistance when a natural disaster strikes. However, it is often volunteer relief organizations that come to the aid of the community, helping natural disaster victims in many ways. this article will give lesson plan idea on how to go about teaching this emotionally traumatic and difficult subject to kids.

The following first lesson plan on helping natural disaster victims has important implications for volunteering, its benefits and aspects of community service.

Discuss with the class:

What do you think is the main purpose of volunteer relief organizations?
Who do you think work for these organizations?
How do you think these organizations get funding for their projects?
In pairs, students list the qualities they think an individual needs if he or she wants to be a volunteer for a disaster relief organization. Then have them share with another pair and finally with the entire class. Ideas are gathered collectively on the board.

Then, have students present a disaster relief card by searching on the Internet for information. Have students pick an organization and think in what way this organization helps people in times of a natural disaster.

Fill in the natural disaster relief card.

Name of organization: _________________________________
What the organization does to help_________________________
How can a person volunteer: ____________________________
What I thought about the information I found:_________________

FEMA For Kids (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has a wonderful resource center for parents and teachers called "Young Americans: Becoming Disaster Ready," which includes disaster relief organizations sites and lesson plans.

Finally, in groups, create a disaster relief organization and post a message on a disaster relief message board, telling about your organization and request volunteers.