by: Julie B., League Librarian
The best time to plan for a natural disaster is, of course, before it happens. With this in
mind, The American Red Cross created Master's of Disaster. This is a complete learning
kit which helps students K-2, 3-5, and 6-8, prepare for disasters and stay safe -- during
and after a disaster. And it teaches them to plan for the possibility of an occurrence, not just
while at home, but where ever they may be when disaster strikes.
Topics covered are: General Disaster Preparedness (including Fire Safety), Hurricanes,
Floods, Tornadoes, Lightning, and Earthquakes.
Items in the kit include: Age appropriate lesson plans, a video featuring safety procedures,
a reproducible activity book, stickers for completed activity pages, and certificates for
teachers to customize and distribute.
A special feature of the kit is that the lesson plan booklet presents each topic of study
separately, in it's own independent section. That means parents can pick and choose what
they will teach and in what order. The entire kit can be taught as a separate class on it's
own (We did this in our cell group one year), or used with your current curriculum. The lesson
booklet shows you how to integrate each topic into your regular core subjects (Mathematics,
Language, and Science).
The Master's of Disaster kit is a stress-free way for students to learn about serious issues,
and it's super easy format makes teaching a positive experience for parents from start to
finish. The kit stresses safety first and not only teaches children what to do if a disaster does
occur, but prepares them to be able to make decision that may very well save their lives
should they become separated from their family during a disaster situation.
Julie B., WFHESL Librarian.