Involving props and visuals when teaching children difficult topics can help make learning easy and fun.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a flash flood results from excessive or heavy rainfall in a time span of usually less than six hours. This excess water in a very short time frame causes water to rise and fall rapidly. With such rapid changes in water levels come great hazards, and thus it is important to teach children about the facts and the dangers of flash flood situations.
Make an Outline
Write an outline of the information you want to share with the third grade class. Your outline should include an explanation of how floods and flash floods happen. Explain that floods happen when heavy rains happen, when snow melts quickly, when rivers overflow and when water collects in any location. Explain that flash floods happen when flooding occurs very quickly because of heavy rainfall, and that flash floods can occur anytime, anywhere.
Use Props
Using visual aids can help children to understand how quickly water rises during a flash flood. Some helpful visuals might include a diagram of the ground, and what happens when too much water collects in lower ground areas. You can also use an aquarium or an ant farm. Add enough water to the container so the water does not reach above the "ground level," or above the rocks or sand in the bottom of the ant farm or aquarium. When additional water is added a flood is created.
Explain and Show Simultaneously
Briefly explain to students that a flood is any normal overflow of water from a river or other body of water that happens over a period of time. Using the USGS definition of a flash flood, tell children that these types of floods happen quickly when there is heavy rainfall. Explain that water collects beneath the surface with normal rains and that the water that falls is absorbed. Point to a diagram or to the ant farm or aquarium, showing the normal level of water beneath the earth's surface. Add water to the container and tell students they are watching a flash flood, as this is what happens when rain falls too fast for the earth to absorb.
Teach Flash Flood Safety
Teach the difference between Flood Watch, Flood Warning, Flash Flood Watch and Flash Flood Warning. Explain to students that if they hear of a Flash Flood Warning, they should tell an adult right away and get to higher ground. Teach students what qualifies as higher ground, such as the difference between a valley near a river and the street or bridge above the river.
Review the Facts
Have students recite the differences between the different flood watches and warnings. Ask them what makes the difference between normal rainfall, which is absorbed by the earth; a regular flood, which is the rising of water over time from some body of water; and a flash flood, which is the rapid rising of water due to too much rainfall in less than six hours. Quiz them on what examples of high and low ground are, such as the difference between a river valley and the top of a hill. Ask them what the order of events should be if they see water rising quickly in an area, and make sure they know to get to high ground and tell an adult as soon as possible.
Tags: difference between, floods happen, Explain that, flash floods, Flood Warning
