Students investigate how hurricanes and other natural disasters affect roads, power, water, food, and communication systems, and how government, policy, and community decisions shape recovery. Through science, math, and civics, they analyze why systems fail, explore cleaner energy and food-use choices that reduce harm, and consider how voting and public action influence safer infrastructure. Working with insights from Hawaii schools, local officials, and state policy contexts, students create meaningful products to share at San Diego Climate Week and send to peers in Hawaii as a sign of solidarity and practical support.

Students investigate how hurricanes and other natural disasters affect roads, power, water, food, and communication systems, and explain why some systems fail while others are redesigned to keep communities safe. They apply science, math, and social studies by analyzing storm impacts, energy use, supply needs, agriculture and food waste, and by studying how government, policy, and voting shape disaster response and recovery. Students collaborate with peers and learn from Hawaii schools, local officials, and state policy examples to develop and communicate realistic ideas and products for Climate Week that show empathy, clear reasoning, and civic action. Students reflect on how human choices contribute to climate change, monitor their own growth through feedback and revision, and present their learning to an authentic audience.

Students will create field notes, system maps, data displays, and short video or audio reflections as they investigate how storms affect power, water, roads, food systems, and community services. In mixed-grade teams, they will design a Climate Week exhibition piece such as an interactive model, infographic, public service announcement, or comparison display that explains why systems fail during disasters and proposes policy or design improvements. As a final contribution, students will produce something to share with Hawaii schools, such as encouragement kits, student-made games or books about disaster readiness, and a collective message or digital presentation informed by communication with local officials and school partners. Students will also draft age-appropriate letters or petitions to government leaders that connect their learning about voting, policy, clean energy, agriculture, and waste to real community action.

Bring both grade levels together in the gallery for a 20–30 minute big-screen launch that combines short hurricane footage from Hawaii, maps of damaged roads/power/water systems, images of farms and food loss, and a brief video or live message from a Hawaii school or local official. Pause throughout for a visible thinking routine such as “Notice, Think, Wonder” followed by “Circle of Viewpoints,” where students consider the storm from the perspectives of a student, farmer, engineer, mayor, and emergency responder. End with a fast team challenge: groups sort picture cards of community systems by what failed, what stayed strong, and what could be redesigned, then post one question they want to investigate about government, policy, voting, clean energy, or disaster planning. Close by introducing the Climate Week San Diego exhibition and the shared goal of creating something meaningful to send to Hawaii schools.

Students can present at San Diego Climate Week through a cross-grade “Resilient Systems Expo” featuring models, data displays, policy posters, and short speeches explaining how storms affect roads, power, water, food, and supply systems. Each team can also showcase a meaningful product to send to Hawaii schools, such as student-made books, games, letters, or clean-energy ideas, alongside a clear explanation of how it responds to community needs. Invite Hawaii school partners, local officials, and families to attend in person or virtually so students can share recommendations about disaster planning, government response, and community action. Build in a gallery walk with feedback, student reflection on policy and climate choices, and a recorded digital exhibit that can be shared beyond the event.