Never go near a hurricane!

A hurricane is a huge storm! It can be up to 600 miles across and have strong winds spiraling inward and upward at speeds of up to 75 to a 200 kilometers per hour.

Each hurricane usually lasts for over a week, moving 10-20 miles per hour over the open ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power.

Hurricanes rotate in a counterclockwise direction around an "eye" in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. The center of the storm or "eye" is the calmest part.

The hurricane only starts with light winds and fair weather but it builds up as it comes onto land causing heavy rains, strong winds and large waves which can damage anything in its way like buildings, trees and cars. The farmers will be badly affected in their livelihood when their cattle and other animals, and most especially their plantations and crops are damaged or destroyed.

People should never go near or close to a hurricane because it is very dangerous and it could kill people as much as it can destroy things and damage infrastructures and buildings.

Learning Intention: We are learning to write an explanation.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I write how a hurricane works starting with an introduction, followed by the explanation, the effects and then a concluding sentence.

Do you know why volcanoes erupt?

Why do volcanoes erupt?

A volcano is a mountain with vents through which molten lava, ashes, gases and rocks erupts up from.

Volcano occur along the boundaries of the earth's plates, where molten rocks is forced upwards from the magma. Some volcanoes are extinct but a few are still active.

When the volcano erupts, ashes and rocks crack the Earth's crust. After its crack, lava is forced upwards from the magma chamber. When the lava comes out, it burns everything in its path.

You should never go near volcanoes because it is very hot and dangerous.

Learning Intention: We are learning to follow the correct structure of an explanation.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I write an introduction, followed by the explanation sequence, effect and a concluding sentence to explain why volcanoes erupt.

Run for your lives!

What is a tsunami?

A tsunami is a large ocean wave is usually caused by an underwater earthquake or a volcanic explosion.

Tsunamis are not tidal waves. Tidal waves are caused by the forces of the moon, sun, and planets upon the tides, as well as the wind as it moves over the water.  Tsunamis will move anything and anyone in its way.

You should never go near tsunamis because you could drown and it is very dangerous.

Learning Intention: We are learning to follow the correct structure of an explanation.

Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I write an introduction, followed by the explanation sequence, effect and a concluding sentence to explain what a tsunami.