A History of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina

New Orleans: As Katrina Hits

Big Idea: Many elements come together in causing a tragedy or disaster; some of these elements can be avoided but others are inevitable.

Essential Questions:

1. How much of a role should government play in warning people about and preparing for impending potential natural disasters?

2. How can other non-humanities subjects (such as earth science, meteorology, atmospheric sciences, etc.) and examining primary sources help us understand historical events better?

Objectives:

1. Explain what people knew about Hurricane Katrina and its effects before it hit.

2. Describe how people prepared and survived the storm.

3. Understand fears about the levees.

Standards:

1. 16.A.3b Make inferences about historical events and eras using historical maps and other historical sources.

2. 17.D.3b Explain how interactions of geographic factors have shaped present conditions.

3. 17.C.3a Explain how human activity is affected by geographic factors.

Procedure:

1. Call students together, have them discuss as a class what they know about Hurricane Katrina, or what questions they have about the entire disaster. (~10 mins)

2. Bring up Powerpoint, relate the details of the storm: what was being said about it, the warnings given to people, who/how many people evacuated, what was known about the levees, the more scientific aspects of the storm. Draw directly from the Aug. 29, 2005 edition of the Times Picayune, a New Orleans newspaper, and show students at http://www.nola.com/katrina/graphics/wide.ssf?/katrina/graphics/ouryear/storm02.swf (~20 mins)

3. Have students watch two survivor videos from nola.com: “A Wing and a Prayer” and “Searching for Solace” at http://www.nola.com/katrina/graphics/wide.ssf?/katrina/graphics/ouryear/storm02.swf (~15 mins)

4. Bring class in to answer any questions students have, and assign a short writing assignment, due in three days and either handwritten or typed. Refer students back to the NOLA site if they need help remembering or completing anything. (~10 mins)

   --The prompt is: You have been stranded in New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina approaches. How do you feel as conditions progressively worsen, do you believe the levees will hold? What have you been told about the storm? Did you go to the Superdome, stay at your house, or somewhere else, and why? How do you think you will survive, how have you prepared? The prompt should be completed in at least a half-page but no more than one page, single-spaced if handwritten and double-spaced if typed.

   --Estimated time: 50 minutes

Assessment:

1. Informal assessment will occur through the use of questions on my part, as well as careful observation of student behavior and participation.

2. Formal assessment will occur through the above writing assignment about the impending hurricane, graded for completion.

Materials:

--Powerpoint, projector, computer, NOLA website