Core Skills Analysis
Science
Will watched a PBS News Hour Classroom video segment about a graphic novel sharing stories from Hurricane Helene survivors. The activity connected a real hurricane with the experiences of people affected by a severe weather event, helping Will consider that hurricanes can have consequences for communities as well as being natural phenomena. He encountered survivor accounts presented through a graphic novel, a format that can communicate real-world experiences visually and in words. This offered Will an introduction to thinking about how people experience and describe the effects of extreme weather.
Social Studies
Will explored how a graphic novel titled *Islands in the Sky: A People's History of Hurricane Helene* presented stories from people who survived the storm. By watching the video segment about the book, he encountered an account of a major event centered on survivors’ experiences and community perspectives. The activity introduced the idea that people’s stories can contribute to how an event is remembered and understood. It also gave Will a chance to engage with current-affairs reporting designed for students in grades 6–12.
Tips
Tips After watching, invite Will to make a simple timeline that places Hurricane Helene and the graphic novel’s publication or discussion in context, using reliable sources to check dates and details. He could compare a survivor-focused account with a weather or emergency-information source, noting how each source serves a different purpose. For a creative extension, have him sketch a respectful, evidence-based panel showing how a community prepares for or responds to a storm, then explain the choices he made. If available, explore a local map or watershed map and discuss how geography can shape storm impacts, without assuming the book’s stories describe any particular location.
Book Recommendations
- The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane by Joanna Cole: An illustrated introduction to hurricanes and storm science that can complement the activity’s real-world topic.
- The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown: A graphic nonfiction account of an environmental disaster and its effects on people and communities, connecting well with the activity’s visual storytelling format.
Learning Standards
- Science — ES.1.h: The activity engaged Will with information about a hurricane and survivor accounts through an educational video; a follow-up source check would extend obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.
- Science — ES.10.a: Hurricane Helene provided a connection to weather phenomena. The activity addressed a hurricane-related topic, though it did not itself establish that Will studied forecasting.
- History and Social Science — WHI Skills: The video introduced a people-centered account of an event. Comparing the video’s information with credible sources would further develop selecting and synthesizing evidence to draw conclusions.
Try This Next
- Story-to-source worksheet: Record what the video says about the graphic novel, then verify one storm-related fact using a credible source.
- Create a three-panel comic showing a researched hurricane-preparation or community-response message.
- Discussion prompt: How can survivor stories help people understand a natural disaster?