5 October 2006
The close of 2006 fiscal year marked the release of a new tool for NOAA education and outreach coordinators. Debra Dailey-Fisher and Annie Reiser of ESRL collaborated with Einstein Fellow René Carson to publish a booklet titled "A Big Storm Named Katrina." The booklet was written and designed for school children grades 2 through 8 to help them learn what to do in case of a severe weather event.
Background: This past year, René worked in the NOAA Office of Education in Washington, D. C. as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow. The booklet was the culmination of her work during the year. Annie Reiser of the Global Systems Division and Debra Dailey-Fisher of the Chemical Sciences Division were approached to collaborate with René on designing kid-friendly graphics to accompany the text.
Significance: "A Big Storm Named Katrina" addresses the National Science Education Standards for content information about severe weather events introduced in grades 5 through 8. It also addresses the weather standards dealing with weather instruments and measurements introduced in grades kindergarten through 4. Many students are affected every year by hurricanes and the weather hazards that come with a storm. Through this booklet, students will become aware of how important it is to understand hurricanes and the their impacts. Students can tell their parents and friends what they need to do before, during, and after a hurricane. This book can teach students in hurricane-prone areas how to act in the event of severe weather warnings. It can also offer a glimpse to other students of what the residents of the Gulf Coast experienced during Katrina. Copies of the booklet are available through the NOAA Office of Education or the contact listed below.