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CBBC Newsround
G-Nation logo This lesson was written by the education team at G-Nation. Click on the website link on the right hand side for loads of great citizenship teaching resources about charity.
Overview
An earthquake on Boxing day, December 26, sent huge waves crashing into 11 Asian countries, wiping out entire communities. It's estimated that 5 million people have been made homeless by the disaster.
British people have so far donated £76m to the fund to help the survivors.
Students learn how the tsunami started, how people have been affected and what they can do to help.
Learning aims
1. What has happened. What do we know about it?
2. How has it affected us? Compare students feelings and reactions to those of others
3. Discussion about natural disasters and the global community
4. What are the government and charities doing?
5. What can students do to help?
6. How can we prevent more disasters?
1. Asian tsunami. What happened?
IMPACT OF THE TSUNAMI
The water pulls back to the sea exposing 300 metres of beach which had been covered by the ocean. (Photo: DigitalGlobe)
select this link to learn about the countries that have been affected
Gather the knowledge of the class together to help establish the situation.
Here are some questions to ask:
Invite pupils to spend 10 minutes looking at how the disaster has impacted them.
TSUNAMI COMMENTS
select this link for the worksheet
Give students a copy of the worksheet They said it , which contains some thoughts about the tsunami written by children logging onto the Newsround website.
Ask students: Which of these statements do you relate to?:
I am shocked that such a thing has happened. We should be grateful for not being in that kind of situation. I hope that the world will reunite and stop fighting because of it.
Afsana, 12, Bolton
It's terrible. Although I am not upset by it because it does not affect me, it must be terrible for the families of those who are missing.
Maisy, 14, Southampton
I am going to donate all my Christmas money.
Francine, 10, Newcastle
I feel deeply saddened by what has happened but I am also angry that places north of the epicentre weren't warned of the tsunamis. The waves struck 4 hours after the original earthquake and many people could have been saved.
Naomi, 15, Cheltenham
The earthquake has got to me, and all those families who have lost their lives and property. The holiday trade and it's economy is ruined, how terrible it must be for the people living there.
Alex, 10, Barnsley
It is just so horrible. This story really hit home for me, because I visited some of the countries that were hit. One video clip I saw was at a hotel that I stayed at! It's just so scary and sad. I'm praying for the victims who lost loved ones, and everyone affected by this horrible incident.
Tina, 16, USA
I think that as Band Aid 20 has had such a massive income, they should give half of the proceeds to help survivors and victims of this terrible event.
Adam, 12, Newbury
It's like the stuff you see in films, not something you really think could happen in your lifetime. But this terrible event proves that this stuff is happening now and we can't predict what nature can do. I feel for everyone who has been affected by this. My heart goes out to them.
Annie, 15, Sheffield
Ask students:
Although they may not be aware of it, students have lived through other earthquake related disasters of lesser magnitude.
In the last 10 years there have been lots of big earthquakes.
DISASTERS
select this link for details of earthquakes in the last ten years
The recent disaster is the fifth biggest natural disaster on record.
select this link for more information on vulnerable parts of the world
Give students a copy of the information on earthquakes within the last 10 years and read it to the class.
Ask students:
Many parts of the world, particularly the middle and far east, are most vulnerable to calamities caused by the earth's tectonic plates shifting. By comparison we live in great security.
Ask students:
UK CHARITY RESPONSES
The UK have so far raised £76 million for the Tsunami Appeal
The original Band Aid raised £65 million worldwide
Live Aid raised £8 million
Comic Relief 2003 raised £40 Million
Children in Need 2004 raised £17 Million
Band Aid 20 has raised £3 million
The main fundraising appeal is being handled by the Disasters Emergency Committee. DEC is an umbrella organisation that unites Action Aid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Care International UK, Christian Aid, Concern, Help the Aged, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision.
The UK have so far raised £76 million for the Tsunami Appeal.
Here are some examples of what donated money can do:
The government spends around £3,900 million each year on combating international poverty and reducing conflict. It does this by through the Department for International Development (DfID).
Ask students to look at these statements and say whether they agree or disagree and why?:
Students may want to make a fundraising plan. They can visit the Giving Nation website (see the link on the right hand side). It is designed to give young people the tools they need to help raise money for causes they care about.
6. How can we prevention more disasters?
How do people protect themselves against tidal waves and earthquakes such as the one we're discussing?
There is an international warning system, started in 1965, designed to alert nations that potentially destructive waves may hit their coastlines within three to 14 hours.
It was started the year after tsunamis associated with a magnitude 9.2 temblor struck Alaska in 1964.
Lots of countries give money an organisation called the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which maintains the international warning system. The countries who give money are called member states.
However, India and Sri Lanka are not members.
In Japan, a network of fiber-optic sensors records any seismic activity and passes that information to a powerful computer at the Meteorological Agency, which estimates the height, speed, destination and arrival time of any tsunamis. Within two minutes of the quake, the agency can sound the alarm.
Leaders from some of the world's well-off countries (G8 leaders) have pledged to set up an early warning system for tsunamis.
Ask students: Who do you think should pay for it?
Students could base their ideas on these estimates:
For an interactive Powerpoint version of this lesson plan, go to the G-Nation link on the right hand side.
For more information on the following organisations, click on the website links on the right hand side.
G-Nation
Giving Nation is a Citizenship Foundation project that supports secondary schools undertaking work to support charity and community. It is a school's programme and website offering information on everything to do with charity. It aims to engage young people in charity by raising awareness and offering opportunities to give energy, time, voice and money to charity. G-Nation offers schools a free pack that enables both lessons and whole school activities to meet curriculum targets whilst developing the school's activities around giving to others. You can order the pack from the Giving nation website.
The Charity Commission
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is established by law as the regulator and registrar of charities in England and Wales. Its aim is to provide the best possible regulation of these charities in order to increase charities' efficiency and effectiveness and public confidence and trust in them. Most charities in England and Wales have to register with the Charity Commission.
Make Poverty History
Make Poverty History is an organisation that brings together a wide cross section of nearly 100 charities, campaigns, trade unions, faith groups and celebrities who are committed to global change. They include organisations like Oxfam, Save the Children, Comic Relief, The Fairtrade Foundation, the TUC and the Mothers Union. Make Poverty History brings together thee kinds of response to poverty:
select this link for our tsunami special section
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