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Track a Tsunami

The Science of Tsunamis

What causes a tsunami? Students will investigate this massive and destructive wave, then create a drawing that illustrates its course.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Poster Board

Steps

  • Step 1

    A tsunami is a series of waves created when a body of water is rapidly displaced. It gets its name from two Japanese words: "tsu" meaning harbor and "nami" meaning waves. Although it is sometimes referred to as a tidal wave, this is a misnomer as it is not caused by the gravitational interactions between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Have students research the science of these waves. What causes them? How do they form? Are there warning signs of an approaching tsunami and if so, what are they? What measures have been taken in some tsunami-prone countries to reduce the damage caused by these waves?

  • Step 2

    Ask students to illustrate a poster that presents information about tsunamis. They might indicate the progression of activity that precedes a tsunami. Or they might present information about some tsunamis they researched, such as the one that occurred in the Indian Ocean in 2004 and was the deadliest tsunami and natural disaster in history. 

  • Step 3

    Display the posters in the classroom or around the school to educate about these phenomena.

Standards

SCI: Design pictorial or graphic representations/models that are useful in communicating ideas. 

SCI: Recognize what is relevant and how changes in scale, proportion, or quantity affect a system’s structure or performance. 

Adaptations

Have students learn about Tilly Smith, who as a child in 2004 was credited with saving the lives of around 100 beachgoers in Thailand by warning them of an impending tsunami. What did she see that alerted her to the impending wave? How was her warning received? How has she been honored for saving the lives of everyone on the beach?

Large earthquakes below or near the ocean are the most common cause of tsunamis, but they can also be triggered by other factors including landslides. Have students learn about the causes and effects of landslides. Ask them to learn about how strong root systems can help reduce landslide susceptibility. Have them examine soil reinforcement, the weight of vegetation, plant root anchoring, etc.