Monday, March 14, 2016

When 'temporary' feels permanent


Click on the embedded link above to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the NPR website.

This article is about efforts to recover from the 2011 disasters in Japan. Word count: 846

Before reading:
 
General Knowledge:
  • What happens when an earthquake hits?
  • How can you prepare for an earthquake? What should you do during and after an earthquake?
  • What happened in Japan on March 11, 2011?

Speculate:
  • Many of the people who evacuated during the disaster five years ago are still living in temporary housing. What might be some of the obstacles to providing them with permanent housing?

After reading:
  
Review and discuss:
  • Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
  • The article says that the temporary houses are "about the size of a king-size mattress". What do you think life is like in a space this small?
  • What are the difficulties of living in temporary housing for so many years? Use examples from the article as well as your own ideas.
  • The article says that many people are not returning to villages even after they have been deemed "safe". What are some possible reasons that they are choosing not to go back?
  • In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

Reflect and evaluate:
  • What helps people to rebuild their lives and communities after natural disasters strike?
  • What might the disaster in Japan have taught people about disaster preparation, emergency response, and warning systems?
  • Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
  • What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

Beyond the page
  • Do an internet search to find out more about earthquakes and earthquake-prone regions in the world.

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below!

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