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4th grade · Science · Unit 9 of 11

Maps & Natural Hazards

Earth's features on maps, and staying safe from hazards.

What your child practices

Practices reading maps of mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes and ocean features to find patterns, and comparing solutions that reduce the impacts of earthquakes, eruptions, floods and storm surges, such as the dunes and sea walls that protect New York's coast.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 4-ESS2-2; 4-ESS3-2 · patterns of Earth's features on maps, and solutions to reduce the impacts of natural hazards

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Maps show where hazards happen, like volcanoes and earthquakes along plate edges.
  2. A storm surge is ocean water pushed onto land by a big storm.
  3. Signs show tsunami routes to higher ground. Sensors on volcanoes warn people early.
  4. Sand dunes and sea walls help protect coasts.

Example: Hurricane winds push ocean water onto a city's streets. What is this called? The storm pushes sea water up onto the land. Answer: a storm surge

Maps & Natural Hazards in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 9 of 11 in 4th grade Science, after Rocks, Layers & Erosion and before Energy Resources.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which is the best way to reduce harm from lahars?

    • Warning systems and escape routes
    • Removing all signs
    • Ignoring warnings
    • Building homes in valleys below volcanoes

  2. Question 2

    Scientists watch volcanoes with sensors to…

    • cool them down
    • stop them forever
    • make them erupt
    • warn people before eruptions

  3. Question 3

    Buildings can be made safer from earthquakes by…

    • putting no supports
    • adding heavy roofs
    • building them to bend and sway
    • making them out of loose bricks

  4. Question 4

    Which helps protect a coastal neighborhood from a storm surge?

    • Building on the beach
    • Cutting down beach grass
    • Sand dunes and sea walls
    • Digging holes in the dunes

  5. Question 5

    What should you do during an earthquake?

    • Run outside at once
    • Drop, cover and hold on
    • Take the elevator
    • Stand by a window

  6. Question 6

    Which hazard can a volcano cause?

    • Falling ash
    • A blizzard
    • A drought
    • A tornado

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