Program Name
Washington
State Tsunami Curriculum K-6 and 7-12
Administering Agency
Washington
State Military Department, Emergency Management Division, Plans, Exercises,
Education and Training Unit
Contact Person (Name/Title)
Barbara
Thurman, Public Education Program Manager
Address
Building
20, Camp Murray, WA 98430-5122
Telephone Number
253-512-7047
Fax Number
253-512-7206
The Washington State Tsunami Curriculum for Schools was
developed to heighten awareness and to assist teachers in preparing their
students on how they can protect themselves and their families when a
tsunami occurs in Washington State.
Tsunamis, usually caused by underwater earthquakes,
could have a devastating impact on our state, which has approximately 180
miles of coastline. Tsunamis
can reach heights of 100 feet and can flow inland for many miles depending
on the strength of the wave and the surrounding terrain.
With this in mind Washington State contracted to have a tsunami
curriculum for schools developed. Two
booklets, which include factual, as well as interesting information, were
written for and targeted at two age groups.
One booklet is written for students Kindergarten-Sixth (K-6) grades
and one for students in grades 7-12. Both
were written to meet Washington State Essential Academic Learning
Requirements (EALRs).
The booklets were written and compiled by Ms. Laurie
Dent-Cleveland. Ms.
Dent-Cleveland holds a Masters Degree, is a classroom and special education
teacher, and a published author. She
has extensive emergency management experience and a clear understanding of
the tsunami threat in Washington State.
In addition to the booklets the curriculum package
contains two books and a video:
·
Tsunami The Great Waves, presented by U.S. Department
of Commerce; National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration; National
Weather Service; UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission;
International Tsunami Information Center and Laboratoire de Geophysique,
France.
·
Surving A Tsunam – Lessons from Chile, Hawaii, and
Japan. Compiled by Brian F. Atwater, Marco Cisternas, Joanne Bourgeois,
Walter C. Dudley, James W. Hendley II, and Peter H. Stauffer.
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
·
The Wave: A Japanese Folktale (video): The
Phoenix Learning Group. BFA Educational Media.
Feedback from Washington schools who have
implemented this program have been very favorable.
Teachers and students agree that after going through the curriculum
they better understand tsunamis and the threat they pose to our state.
For more information on
tsunamis or to obtain copies of the curriculum package, please contact
George Crawford, Program Manager or Barbara Thurman, Public Educator at
(253) 512-7000.
