Tsunami disaster in Asia: resources for teachers and young people
The disaster in Asia shocked and saddened people across the world. Children and young people will have been affected as keenly as anyone and may be experiencing a range of emotions and have many questions they want to ask.
The following links may be useful for teachers when helping young people to understand the issues related to this and other global catastrophes. There are also suggestions and ideas on ways that young people can get involved and contribute.
Please note that some of these links lead to news websites which may contain disturbing images that pupils might find distressing.
- Citizenship teaching resources
- 5-14 teaching resources
- Post-14 teaching resources
- Cross-curricular resources
- Counselling pupils
- Resources for young people
- How you can help
- News articles and reports
Citizenship teaching resources
Red Cross education resources on the tsunami disaster
The British Red Cross has launched free online education resources to help teachers and young people tackle the humanitarian aspects of the tsunami disaster. The two assembly kits, one for primary (P6-P7) and one for secondary (S1-S4), provide facts about what happened when the earthquake and tsunami struck on 26 December. It also gives information about the humanitarian response from countries around the world and how everyone is helping.
UN's World Food Programme (WFP): Food Force - 'humanitarian' video game
Set on a fictitious island called Sheylan riven by drought and war, Food Force invites children to complete six virtual missions that reflect real-life obstacles faced by WFP in its emergency responses both to the tsunami and other hunger crises around the world. You can download PC and Mac versions of the game for free and detailed teachers' notes offer lesson plans at Primary, Intermediate and Secondary level.
Giving Nation: Asian Tsunami Lesson Plan
Free lesson plan for secondary teachers to help pupils come to terms with the tragedy. The lesson covers pupils' knowledge and feelings about the disaster and the response from the UK public and government, and gives young people support in their personal, class or school initiatives to help.
The Global Dimension website
Searchable database of resources for teachers bringing together the best in global dimension publishing. You can search for information on particular countries or by theme - Tsunami and Disasters are both in menu under themes.
BBC Natural Disasters website
BBC 'hot topics' site on natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods and storms, tidal waves and droughts, Could natural disasters devastate Britain? What do you know about disasters? Do you feel at risk? Timeline of events.
Post-14 Resources
Geography and Geology
BBC Scotland Education Environmental Hazards
Case study on a flash flood in Scotland and its impact.
BBC Bitesize – Development and Health
Resources on the impact of cholera and malaria.
Curriculum Visions
This site has resources for teachers on recent natural and man-made hazards such as the Asian tsunami, hurricanes, volcanoes, flooding and oil spills. It includes maps and photographs.
Kay's Geography
An excellent set of links on tsunamis and disaster relief, with information on global tectonic processes.
Teacher Resource Exchange – Indonesian Tsunami
Resources related to the Indonesian earthquake and tsunami, with a list of useful links relating to the specific disaster and to tsunamis in general. The resource includes worksheets and spreadsheets, some of which would also be useful for English teaching.
US Geological Survey
The facts on the Asian tsunami including location, depth, distances and parameters.
Wikinews
Up-to-date news on the damage and casualties of the Asian tsunami, with links to useful encyclopedia articles from Wikipedia.
Modern Studies
World Factbook
Factual information on the geography, economy and people of the affected countries.
World Info Zone
Detailed country profiles with information on the geography, history, languages and architecture of affected countries, with a gallery of images.
Earth Physics, Structural Geology and Plate Tectonics for Geology at Higher
These support materials provide student information and worksheets, with staff notes.
Cross-curricular resources
Earthquake and Tsunami in the Indian Ocean
This resource covers natural disasters, the human and physical impact of the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean, aid (the emergency response and relief effort) and long-term sustainable recovery. Each section has source materials with background information, case studies and webquests. It has relevance across the curriculum and may be suitable for geography, modern studies, education for citizenship and 5–14 environmental studies.
Resources for young people
BBC Newsround: Special on Asia Earthquake Disaster
Special report on the disaster specifically for young people. Includes step-by-step guide with information and facts, opportunity to comment and share feelings as well as ideas on how young people can help with fundraising.
Unicef Voices of Youth message board
Message board where young people from across the world are discussing with each other how they feel about the tsunami disaster and what they can do to help.
How you can help
Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)
The Disasters Emergency Committee is an umbrella group of UK aid organisations - including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Oxfam - working to provide clean water, food and shelter to thousands. To donate money telephone from the UK on 0870 60 60 900.
Department for International Development (DFID)
Asia earthquake and tsunamis, information and advice on how you can help and where you can get more information.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
News stories, press releases, operation updates and appeals for funds.
Global aid organisations
BBC link to global aid organisations that have launched urgent appeals for donations to help survivors of the Indian Ocean earthquake disaster, including the Hindu Forum Disaster Relief Task Force, Islamic Relief and Medair.
News reports and articles
BBC Asia Quake Disaster site
In-depth report with views from correspondents across the affected areas.
Guardian Special Report
Guardian report with all the latest on the tsunami disaster as well as in-depth stories.
United Nations News Centre
Latest UN news and information on tsunami victims and emergency aid appeal.
Unicef on children affected by the tsunami
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary: 'The breathtaking levels of death and devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunamis in south east Asia has shocked and saddened everyone around the world.' Urgent appeal to help regional trade unions to rebuild and re-equip themselves.
BBC News Q & A: The weight of debt
UK Chancellor Gordon Brown wants the world's richest nations to freeze foreign debt repayments for countries hit by the Asian tsunami disaster. The move would allow countries such as Thailand, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to focus money on reconstruction.
Special thanks to the Red Cross for use of their images.