Students Understanding of Earthquakes and Tsunamis in High Risk Areas

Population growth and spread have increased human exposure to natural hazards potential disasters affecting people’s quality of life. This situation is especially manifested in marginalized or vulnerable areas. Moreover, within such areas, children are affected, are, at the same time, considered be agents change. However, children’s voices been scarcely for disaster risk reduction planning, science education has not widely addressed these ideas. study explores understanding earthquakes tsunamis by living high-risk areas Chile during a learning unit according their geographical zone. The was part context-based unit. One hundred two students from four schools used explanations draw write causes situation, revealing each phenomenon. results show most attributed Tectonic Plates Theory while holding ancient scientific ideas about tsunami causes, example, some were based on air pressures. More sophisticated reasoning found end unit, advancing promoted relevance discussed, cases with animistic - transferring needs attributes non-animated entities- fatalist understandings phenomena. perhaps promotes empowerment action-based choices safety. Furthermore, argument policy curriculum design primary mitigating discussed.