Website Review: Disaster Detector

DISASTER DETECTOR is an educational game that applies natural hazard data to catastrophic event preparation.

Published by Smithsonian Education, this science game teaches learners how to analyze and interpret data to forecast natural disasters. In addition, students learn how to apply tools to mitigate the effects of those catastrophic events. Players are asked to help the citizens of Smithsonville and four other cities make predictions and save their city from damage. Players can complete a tutorial or jump right into game play.

Librarians will find this science game to be an effective way to connect science with real-world natural disasters. After playing the game, ask youth to read about real natural disasters and share how the game connects with reality.

Students can play the game online or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

To play the game or download the app, go to https://ssec.si.edu/disaster-detector.

Digital Spotlight: Farm Security Administration Photographs

FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PHOTOGRAPHS from the New York Public Library are a collection of over 2500 black and white images.

Contents: Users will find this collection of high quality, public domain photos easy to navigate and use. Choose from well-known photographs such as Dorothea Lange or search by topic for a wide range of fascinating photographs.

Classroom Connections: Connect these photos with works of historical fiction, history projects, or science projects related to drought and natural disasters. They’re also useful in projects related to the workforce and daily life in the mid 1930s through mid 1940s. These public domain photos can be used in student projects and shared online.

Featured Digital Objects:
Migrant Workers https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/ba309cea-932e-4288-e0…
Famous Pea Picker Mother https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/639b2760-2289-0132-a9…
Garden https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/ba309cea-924e-4288-e0…

To visit the collection, go to https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/…/e5462600-c5d9-012f-a6….

Technology Review: Images of Change

IMAGES OF CHANGE is an visually-rich science website and app from NASA.

Both the website and app contain similar features.

From natural disasters to growing cities, users take a close-up look at pairs of images that show before and after scenes. Students can see glaciers that have melted, the devastation from floods and wildfires, and the impact of humans in different settings.

Each photo pair contains background information and a map showing its location. Photo pairs are shown side-by-side. With the app version, images can also be viewed individually or overlaid with a curtain slider to make comparisons easier.

Users can browse through the images or select categories including cites, extreme events, ice, human impact, water, land cover, top picks, and most recent. Images can also be viewed on a map.

Librarians will find uses for the images across the curriculum including both science and social science topics and issues. Use the image pairs to jumpstart discussions or as the basis for an exploration of topics related to climate change.

Because the project is from NASA which is a government agency, students can use their images in their projects. The website contains an option to download the image and also shows how to credit the source.

To explore the website, go to http://climate.nasa.gov/state_of_flux.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/app/images-of-change/id710564941….

App Review: Monster Guard: Prepare for Emergencies

MONSTER GUARD: PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES by the American Red Cross is an engaging middle grade app preparing youth for natural disasters and other types of emergencies.

Sponsored by Disney and reviewed by major government agencies, the app is both engaging and authoritative. This visually attractive educational simulation stresses the Learn-Practice-Share approach including the importance of learning how to stay safe in an emergency, practicing safety strategies, and sharing with friends and family.

Users work their a series of 14 fun training activities. Students can role-play as five different monster recruits, earn badges, and beat high scores as they learn about emergencies. Audio support and subtitles address the diverse needs of learners. The simulated training environments focus on the types of emergencies found in particular areas of the United States such as hurricanes in coastal areas and wildfires in dry regions.

Librarians will find this to be an excellent app for building both science and social studies curriculum connections. Extend the experience by creating a display of books associated with natural disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods.

To learn more, go to http://www.redcross.org/monsterguard.