Resilience in the Classroom: Building Disaster-Ready Communities Through Education

In this unit, students explore how cyclones form, the impacts they have and how communities prepare for, respond to and recover from severe weather events.

Students begin by investigating cyclone formation and impacts through a historical case study of Cyclone Tracy, categorising short and long term effects. They demonstrate their understanding by creating a resilience news report that shows how communities responded and intend to rebuild after a cyclone.

Students then examine how communities predict and prepare for cyclones by combining scientific forecasting with First Nations knowledge of Country. Through games and comparison activities, they explore different warning signs and demonstrate their learning by designing a board game or writing a weather presenter script that highlights the value of using multiple knowledge systems.

In the final lesson, students focus on how design improves safety and resilience in cyclone-prone areas. By analysing survivor accounts and historical data, they design a blueprint for a cyclone-resilient home.

Throughout the unit, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they explore real-world strategies for creating safer and more resilient communities.