Coping during natural disasters
Natural disasters can be extremely stressful and frightening for anyone impacted either directly or indirectly. Students are likely to process the traumatic experiences in different ways. This activity is designed for students who have been directly impacted by a natural disaster. Students learn from the lived experiences of other young people and from the response of their community.
Year level
7-12
Duration
60 minutes
Type
In class activity
SEL Competencies
Self-management
Self-awareness
Learning intention
Students use lived experience to evaluate how others have coped with natural disasters. They reflect on the strategies they have used and could use in the future.
Key outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
identify that they are not alone in their experiences and feelings
reflect on the coping strategies they have used
describe coping strategies they could use in the future.
Materials needed
Access to the ReachOut.com article ‘How to deal with the stress of bushfires, floods, earthquakes and cyclones’
Paper and pens, or electronic device, for writing
Mapped to
Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Analyse factors that influence emotional responses and devise strategies to self-manage emotions (AC9HP8P06)
Plan and implement strategies, using health resources, to enhance their own and others’ health, safety, relationships and wellbeing (AC9HP8P10)
Evaluate emotional responses in different situations to refine strategies for managing emotions (AC9HP10P06)
Plan, justify and critique strategies to enhance their own and others’ health, safety, relationships and wellbeing (AC9HP10P10)
Participate in physical activities that promote health and social outcomes to design and evaluate participation strategies for themselves and others (AC9HP10M05)
Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities
Personal and Social Capability
Social awareness
Social management
Self-awareness
Self-management
Critical and Creative Thinking
Inquiring
NSW PDHPE Syllabus
Assesses their own and others’ capacity to reflect on and respond positively to challenges (PD5-1)
Examines and demonstrates the role help-seeking strategies and behaviours play in supporting themselves and others (PD4-2)
Researches and appraises the effectiveness of health information and support services available in the community (PD5-2)
Plans, implements and critiques strategies to promote health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity in their communities (PD5-7)
Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education
Plan and use strategies and resources to enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of their communities (VCHPEP130)
Plan and implement strategies for connecting to natural and built environments to promote the health and wellbeing of their communities (VCHPEP131)
Identify and critique the accessibility and effectiveness of support services based in the community that impact on the ability to make healthy and safe choices (VCHPEP145)
Evaluate situations and propose appropriate emotional responses and then reflect on ‘Plan, implement and critique’ strategies to enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of their communities (VCHPEP149)
Activity 1
Exploration: You're not alone
30 minutes
This activity has been created for students who have been directly affected by a natural disaster.
In preparation for this lesson, it is suggested you access Be You's article 'Impact of natural disasters on mental health'.
Exploration: You’re not alone
Explain to students that if they have been personally affected by a natural disaster they might be feeling lots of different emotions, such as shock, fear, stress, helplessness, sadness or even anger. It’s important to remind students that they are not alone in having these feelings, and to reach out for support if they are struggling.
Provide students with access to or printed copies of the ReachOut.com article ‘How to deal with the stress of bushfires, floods, earthquakes and cyclones’.
Display and discuss, in turn, each of the seven strategies identified in the article:
Talk about how you’re feeling
Spend time with family and friends
Make time to chill
Focus on what you can control
Keep a regular routine
Turn to the community
Get extra support.
For each strategy, discuss with students:
Why might it be helpful for dealing with the stress of a natural disaster?
Does it resonate with them? If so, what did/does this look like for them?
Tip: If students are using individual devices, encourage them to explore the links under each heading. They might have other ideas that aren’t included.
Activity 2
Reflection: Student article
30 minutes
Ask students to write an article, reflecting on how they were impacted by the natural disaster.
Students might want to include their reflections on the coping strategies they used, could have used, wanted to use or continue to use.
Invite students to share their article with the school community, highlighting their own resilience and that of their family. Investigate other sharing opportunities – for example, the local services or newspaper.
Additional: Invite students to adopt ReachOut.com’s article style, using headings, quotes and tips.