Published on Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning clearinghouse
South Asia Tsunami Resources and Tools
The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse has collected resources and tools to help students and teachers develop a service-learning or community service project to assist with the tsunami relief effort. Below are organizations to join; lesson plans on fundraising, tsunamis, and the culture of the areas affected; and stories of what students around the world are doing to help. An opportunity to submit ideas and stories regarding the relief effort is also included.
Tsunami Relief Efforts
Service-Learning and Tsunami Relief: A Long-Term Response
The National Youth Leadership Council is encouraging teachers to find service-learning projects that will contribute to the on-going relief effort. A list of resources and agencies is provided
Quarters From Kids
A grassroots effort to tap the power of youth in America as well as the people that work with them, this organization strives not only to collect donations for the relief effort, but also have the youth involved learn through their service and support. Download these two lesson plans: K-5th Grades (47K pdf) and 6th-12th Grades (56K pdf).
UNICEF Youth Action Tsunami Relief
This site provides ways for youth to raise or donate money for tsunami relief. Included are steps on how to organize a fund raiser, a link to donate online, and an address to donate by mail.
USA Freedom Corps
Provides the latest information on tsunami relief efforts including how to help and a link to make donations.
What students are doing to help
January 19, 2005, University of Texas at Austin News
Coordinated fundraising effort for tsunami disaster victims begins at The University of Texas at Austin
The University's Volunteer and Service Learning Center has started a student fundraising effort. Volunteers are operating a donation station in town with the donations to be sent to UNICEF and the American Red Cross.
January 19, 2005, Education Week (free registration required)
Tsunami-Relief Groups Advise K-12
As American schools pitch in with an array of charitable projects in response to the tsunami in South Asia, experts say educators and students should consider carefully how they can most effectively support relief groups, avoid fund-raising scams, and incorporate their efforts into service-learning programs.
January 12, 2005, edweek.org (free registration required)
U.S. Schools Find Lessons in Tsunami
The earthquake and resulting tsunami that wracked coastlines along the Indian Ocean and killed an estimated 150,000 people or more prompted generosity and classroom lessons in U.S. schools last week.
More stories about what students are doing to help
Email us with any ideas or stories on what your students are doing in regards to the tsunami relief effort.
South Asia Tsunami Lesson Plans and Curricula
Tsunami Disaster in South Asia:
What can we do to help the victims and their families of the Asian Tsunamis? Includes activity directions and links to websites containing tsunami information.
Tsunami Disaster Relief and Information:
How Your Classroom Can Make a Positive Difference. A list of web resources that provide information on tsunamis and earthquakes including pictures, articles, and assistance information.
Email us with what curricula or lesson plans you are implementing in regards to the tsunami.
Local Culture of Affected Areas
Indonesia
Traditional games played by Indonesian children. These include versions of marbles, jacks, and paper/scissors/rock.
Child's guide to Indonesia offers an interactive website that gives information in small amounts so children can follow along. Includes games, quizzes, photos, facts, activities, and a website for teachers with resources and curriculum guides.
Indonesian Life Style is a website that has information on life in Indonesia including the water system, transportation, food, and entertainment.
Sri Lanka
Angelina Jolie's journal (focusing on children) from her visit to Sri Lanka as a UNHCR representative. (450k PDF) The journal covers April 14-15, 2003.
Thailand
Online diary/culture guide written by a Thai student. An online magazine about the life of a Thai teenager in Thailand (published by the teenager). A new story has been added roughly each week for seven years.
