Lesson Plan - The Storm That Changed America

Build Background Knowledge

Provide this task for students to complete as they watch “What You Need to Know About Hurricanes”: As you watch the video, sketch an image of a hurricane and label its parts. Then add notes about at least two important facts or terms. Guide students to research another fact about hurricanes individually or in pairs. Discuss responses.

Preview Vocabulary

Use the online Skill Builders Words to Know to preteach the domain-specific terms climate change, Congress, evacuate, and federal for “The Storm That Changed America” and generator, loot, ration, Red Cross, and triage for “ ‘So Many People Lost Everything.’ ” Have students refer to the Skill Builders as they read.

Read the Article

Read the articles aloud or have students read them independently or in pairs. As students read, ask them to jot down ideas in response to the question at the beginning of the article on page 20.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.

• According to “The Storm That Changed America,” what was Hurricane Katrina? What were some of its effects? (Central Ideas)
Hurricane Katrina was a devastating storm that hit the Gulf coast in August 2005. Its wind speeds reached up to 175 miles per hour, and it caused more than $160 billion in damage. More than 1,800 people died, and another 1 million had to leave their homes. Levees in New Orleans, Louisiana, failed and more than 80 percent of that city was flooded. Other areas in that state and in Mississippi and Alabama were “completely flattened.”

• Summarize the section “Changes Since Katrina.” (Summarizing)
Since the hurricane, officials have examined why many communities were not fully prepared for the storm. They found that some places hadn’t tested their evacuation plans, and many people couldn’t or wouldn’t leave their homes. Congress and state governments have passed laws to help improve responses to emergencies. For example, one law requires pets to be included in evacuation plans. Infrastructure and building codes have also been strengthened. Additionally, better training has improved coordination among different levels of government. Some of these new measures were tested by Hurricane Ida in 2021.

• What are some actions anyone can take to prepare for emergencies? (Key Details)
Officials encourage everyone to plan ahead by creating a list of important contacts and gathering emergency supplies of food and water. Another step anyone can take is to prepare a “go bag” with money, batteries, important documents, and other essentials.

• How does the map “Hurricane Katrina’s Path” support the article? (Text Features)
The map supports the article by showing the destructive path Katrina took across Louisiana and Mississippi. It shows the locations of some of the most affected cities, along with where Katrina had tropical storm and hurricane force winds.

• In the article “ ‘So Many People Lost Everything,’ ” why does Monica Lewis-Carter say she wanted to help? How did she help others? (Key Details)
Lewis-Carter says that she wanted to help because she knew she had useful skills as the director of a nursing facility. The Red Cross sent her to Kiln, Mississippi, where she worked in a middle school that was being used as a headquarters. One of her jobs was to triage hurricane victims who showed up needing shelter. She also helped by organizing games and crafts to keep the children busy and allow their parents time to plan how to recover.

• What details from “ ‘So Many People Lost Everything’ ” stand out most to you? How do they help you understand the devastation of Hurricane Katrina? (Analyzing Primary Sources)
Sample response: One of the details that stands out to me is Lewis-Carter’s description of how “railroad tracks had been raised out of the ground and twisted like pipe cleaners.” I was also surprised to hear that military police had to guard the school. Other details that stand out are that “it was not uncommon to hear someone crying in the middle of the night” and that “the school was covered in photos of family members who had gone missing.” These details help me understand the heartbreaking circumstances that many people faced after the storm and sympathize with them.

• What are two other questions you would have asked Lewis-Carter? Why? (Asking Questions)
Sample response: I would have asked her how the situation evolved over the four weeks she was there. Lewis-Carter said there was no cell phone service for the first two weeks, but I’m curious about how people’s needs changed. I would also have asked what lessons she learned about being prepared for emergencies. I imagine she would have useful advice after seeing firsthand how a disaster affected so many people.

• Choose one image from either article to analyze. What do you notice about it? What do you wonder? (Visual Literacy)
Sample response: In the photo of government workers helping people in Mississippi on page 23, I notice that it looks like two residents are getting help from two workers. There are a lot of forms and documents, and it looks like the workers are creating lists. I also notice a box fan in the background and a handheld fan on the table, which makes me think that it was hot. I wonder how long people had to wait to be helped because the line looks long, and I can’t see the end of it.

Prepare for Emergencies

Use the Skill Builder Create an Emergency Plan to help students create a plan for their households. Encourage students to discuss and share the plan with their families.

Enter This Year’s Eyewitness Contest

Use the Skill Builder Get Ready for Your Interview! to help students prepare for their conversations. Discuss the difference between open-ended and yes/no questions, and brainstorm interview ideas together. Download the Eyewitness to History Contest Entry Form and Rules. Entries must be postmarked or emailed by December 20, 2023.

Assess Comprehension

Assign the 10-question Know the News quiz for “The Storm That Changed America,” available in PDF and interactive forms. You can also use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of “ ‘So Many People Lost Everything’ ” and three other articles from the issue.