Hazards on Earth

Youth are introduced to natural hazards and mitigations on Earth through a card-matching game.

robot deciding what to do with a playing card showing a wildfire

Activity Downloads

Timing

5 MIN. Intro to Natural Hazards

10 MIN. Getting to Know the Cards

25 MIN. Hazards on Earth Card Game

5 MIN. Reflect

45 MIN. TOTAL

Setup

The Educator Guide has a script, materials list, and prep directions. Be sure to have it open and ready to help guide you through every activity.

  1. Print and tape together Mitigate Hazards playmats.
  2. Print and cut out Decks C and D for each group of 4.
  3. Post the Game Rules.
  4. Have the Educator Guide on hand for S2 directions and script.

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PlayPlay
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satellite imagery of two hurricanes
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Youth Will Know

  • There are different hazards on Earth.
  • Humans have developed ways to mitigate hazards.

Youth Will Do

  • Learn about hazards on Earth and the idea that humans have developed ways to mitigate some of them.
  • Match appropriate mitigation strategies with their hazards in a collaborative card game.
  • Learn in the card game that chance events and human collaboration also play a role in hazard mitigation.

Did you know?

Some natural disasters can cause other natural disasters. For instance, an earthquake can trigger a landslide, or a volcano could set off a wildfire.

Quick Tips

  • Don’t skip the Chance card actions; youth might respond better to kinesthetic and sensory learning than visual and auditory methods.
  • If groups finish early, remove the Research and Teamwork cards and two to four mitigation cards from the deck and restart gameplay.

Glossary

Natural Hazard: an extreme event that occurs naturally and can cause harm to humans or property