Developing hurricane awareness with a science exercise for students

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Abstract

An especially virulent hurricane season in 2005 served as a reminder that hurricane preparedness is essential when living in areas of the country where they routinely strike. A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) science exercise for elementary and middle school students can be used as a tool in disaster preparedness by graphically representing the force of hurricane winds on a house or other structure. This effective practice, which shares the lesson plan, is from the website of the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in Tallahassee, Florida.

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Issue

Applying science principles to a practical exercise about the force of hurricane winds.

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Action

The following steps were taken for the Building a Hurricane Proof House project.

Day 1: Design the House

The students' task is to design and build the most wind resistant "house" they can construct, using the materials provided. The home must include at least 2,000 cubic centimeters, but can be any shape.

Materials

  • Two sheets of construction paper will be used for the main construction. (Extra sheets of paper may be purchased for 5 points to be deducted from the final grade.)
  • Four straws, glue stick and .6 cellophane tape are provided. A Styrofoam tray (turned upside down) will be used for the base only.

Team Work

 

  • Each team will design and construct the house together.
  • List the science principles and construction ideas involved in designing the Hurricane Proof House on the Construction Team sheet.

Day 2: Build the House

 

  • Draw the top and side view of your house.
  • Calculate the volume:
    • Formula for volume for a rectangular solid or cylinder is area base x height
    • Formula for any cone or pyramid shape is 1/3 the volume of original shape
    • Formula for a sphere is 4/3 x pi x r3 (pi - 22/7)

Day 3: Grade

Safety

  • At any time, unsafe behavior will result in the student being fired from the construction team.
  • Students may only use materials provided.

Scoring

Neatness: 10 points

Effective Use of Materials: 10 points

Use as many of the materials as possible with no waste.

Design: 20 points

Elements should include:

  • Top view drawing (with actual dimensions)
  • Side view drawing (with actual dimensions)
  • A list and description of the science principles used in the design of the house

Correct calculation of volume: 20 points(Minimum of 2,000 cubic centimeters)

How the house withstands the "wind": 20 points

Cooperation of the construction team: 20 points

From the designing stage to building to hurricane occurrence, all team members will cooperate with each other. Each will do his/her part to make the building a success.

For the team whose house withstands the most wind: 5 bonus points

To test the house, a leaf blower is turned on at 10 feet away from the house (a tropical storm), then up close (a category 1 Hurricane). The house is then exposed to the leaf blower from all sides. This is done because hurricane winds eventually hit every side of the house as the hurricane passes over.

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Context

The Building a Hurricane Proof House project was implemented with science students at Leon High School, in Tallahassee, Florida.

The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season was one of the busiest storm seasons the United States has ever seen, with Hurricanes Wilma, Katrina, Rita, Dennis, and Ophelia, among others. To date, Hurricane Katrina is regarded as the worst natural disaster in United States history. Over a million people were displaced and the official death toll was well over 1000.

Population growth in hurricane-prone areas puts greater responsibility on residents and businesses to become familiar with preparing for hurricanes. Building homes that can better withstand the winds from hurricanes will be a consideration in future housing starts.

According to a September 2004 article on hurricanes in the Christian Science Monitor, long-term cycles affecting the ocean and atmosphere are at play to cause this increased hurricane activity. Known as the Atlantic multidecadal signal, "these atmospheric conditions and warmer ocean temperatures can turn up for decades at a time," says Gerald Bell, a meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Maryland. Similar conditions existed from the mid-1920s to the mid-1960s, another period of above-normal tropical cyclone activity.

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Outcome

Students who take part in the Building a Hurricane Proof House exercise:

  • Are reminded about the importance of hurricane preparedness
  • Apply scientific principles to learning about protecting their home from hurricane wind damage
  • Gain experience in working as a team

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Posted On

October 18, 2005

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Source Documents

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Related sites

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