Storm Narratives

This lesson introduces students to narratives by young people impacted by severe weather and guides students in writing their own stories.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students watch a video explaining how storms are increasing in severity due to climate change.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students analyze first-person narratives about severe weather by young people from across the United States.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students write and present their own narratives based on their experiences of storms or severe weather.

Positives

• The stories in this lesson include diverse geographical regions in the United States and young people from diverse backgrounds.

• Students learn about storytelling by listening to the stories of other young people.

• Students express their feelings and personal experiences of climate change through writing.

• Students reflect on how personal narratives could influence others, including leaders and politicians.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students need a device with an internet connection in order to access the videos in the Investigate section.

• Students should be familiar with some narrative techniques.

Differentiation

• Teachers can choose to focus on the oral elements of storytelling such as intonation, pauses, and pacing.

• Students can compare the audio-only podcast with the visual elements in the videos and choose an audio-only or video format to record their narratives.

• To shorten the lesson, teachers can pick one picture to use for the Inquire section and one video to use in the Investigate section.

This lesson provides a profound insight for students to share their experience with hurricanes or extreme weather events and how it impacts their lives, livelihoods, and property. Then, students reflect on their feelings and share these narratives to encourage others to respond to any natural disaster in the future. All materials contained in this lesson have been verified, and this lesson is endorsed for teaching.

Primary Standards

• Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
  • Speaking & Listening (K-12)
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
  • Writing (K-12)
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

Supporting Standard

• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
  • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
    • HS-ESS3-1 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.