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📕 A2: Grades 10-12 • WEATHER & NATURE

Natural Disaster News Report

In this lesson, you'll read a news article about a natural disaster and learn how to talk about past events. You'll also practice giving safety advice using 'should'.

Natural Disaster News Report
💬 Warm-up
1 Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? What happened?
2 What should you do during a tornado or earthquake?
3 Why is it important to have an emergency plan?

🎯 Objectives

  • Use past simple to narrate events of a natural disaster.
  • Use 'should' to give safety advice.
  • Identify and use vocabulary: tornado, earthquake, tsunami, evacuate, natural disaster, shelter.
In this block:

📚 Vocabulary

1.
tornado
"The tornado destroyed several houses."
A violent storm with strong winds that spin.
2.
earthquake
"The earthquake shook the ground for 30 seconds."
A sudden shaking of the ground.
3.
tsunami
"The tsunami was caused by an underwater earthquake."
A huge wave caused by an earthquake underwater.
4.
evacuate
"The police told everyone to evacuate the city."
To leave a place for safety.
5.
natural disaster
"A natural disaster like a flood can be very dangerous."
A destructive event caused by nature.
6.
shelter
"We went to a shelter to stay safe."
A safe place to stay during a disaster.
🗓️ Friday, 9th October 2026
tornado
A violent storm with strong winds that spin.
earthquake
A sudden shaking of the ground.
tsunami
A huge wave caused by an earthquake underwater.
evacuate
To leave a place for safety.
natural disaster
A destructive event caused by nature.
shelter
A safe place to stay during a disaster.

✍️ Practice

Guess the missing word.
1. The government told everyone to evacuate the coastal area.
2. During the storm, we had to find a safe shelter near the school.
3. Last month, a powerful tornado hit the small town.
4. After the underwater earthquake, a huge tsunami reached the shore.
5. A natural disaster like a flood can destroy homes.
6. The earthquake caused buildings to collapse.
🗓️ Friday, 9th October 2026
1. The government told everyone to evacuate the coastal area.
2. During the storm, we had to find a safe shelter near the school.
3. Last month, a powerful tornado hit the small town.
4. After the underwater earthquake, a huge tsunami reached the shore.
5. A natural disaster like a flood can destroy homes.
6. The earthquake caused buildings to collapse.

📖 Reading

A Day of Natural Disasters

Last Tuesday, a powerful earthquake shook the coastal city of Greenbay. The ground moved for almost a minute. People were very scared. Many buildings fell down. The city was in chaos. Soon after, officials warned about a possible tsunami. They told everyone to evacuate to higher ground. The police and army helped people leave their homes.

Maria, a high school student, said: 'I was in class when the earthquake started. We went under our desks. Then we heard the tsunami warning. We evacuated the school and walked to a shelter on a hill. It was a long day, but we were safe.'

The tsunami did not come, but the city had to prepare for aftershocks. This natural disaster taught everyone the importance of emergency plans. Now, the city is rebuilding. People feel stronger because they worked together.

Comprehension Questions

1.
What natural disaster first hit Greenbay?
An earthquake first hit Greenbay.
2.
Why did officials ask people to evacuate?
They warned about a possible tsunami.
3.
Where did Maria go after evacuating the school?
She walked to a shelter on a hill.
4.
Did the tsunami actually arrive?
No, the tsunami did not come.
5.
What did the disaster teach people?
It taught them the importance of emergency plans.

🎧 Listening Practice

My Experience with a Tornado

0:00 / 0:00
Listening context

Comprehension Questions

1.
What natural disaster did Jessica experience?
She experienced a tornado.
2.
Where did her family take shelter?
They took shelter in the basement.
3.
How long did they stay in the basement?
They stayed for almost an hour.
4.
Why did they have to evacuate later?
They had to evacuate because of flooding.
5.
What is one piece of advice Jessica gives?
She says to stay calm and follow a plan.

🗣️ Pair Work

Emergency Plan Discussion

"Work with a partner. Discuss what you should do during a natural disaster. Use the vocabulary words and the modal 'should'. First, choose one disaster: tornado, earthquake, or tsunami. Then, list at least three actions. Finally, share your ideas with the class."

👉 Choose a natural disaster and explain your choice.

👉 Describe two things you should do before the disaster.

👉 Describe two things you should do during the disaster.

🚀 EnglishDee Tasks

KEYWORDS: tornado earthquake tsunami evacuate natural disaster shelter
✍️ WRITING

Safety Plan

Write a short safety plan (80-100 words) for your family. Describe what to do during a natural disaster. Use past simple to narrate a scenario. Use 'should' for advice.

✅ Checklist:
  • Write 80-100 words.
  • Use at least 4 vocabulary words: tornado, earthquake, tsunami, evacuate, natural disaster, shelter.
  • Use past simple to describe what happened.
  • Use 'should' for safety tips.
  • Structure: (1) Choose a disaster, (2) describe what happened, (3) give advice.
🎙️ SPEAKING

Disaster Talk

Record a 45-second talk about staying safe during a natural disaster. Use the word 'should'. Start by naming the disaster. Then describe actions. End with a safety reminder.

✅ Checklist:
  • Record 45 seconds.
  • Use at least 4 vocabulary words.
  • Use 'should' at least twice.
  • Speak clearly.
  • Structure: (1) Name the disaster, (2) describe two or three actions, (3) give a final piece of advice.
Helpful Phrases
  • First, we should check our emergency kit.
  • During the earthquake, we should hide under a table.
  • After the storm, we should stay in a shelter.
  • Remember to evacuate if the police tell you.