No Prep Sub Plans: Natural Disasters — Wildfires

No Prep Sub Plans: Natural Disasters — Wildfires
Research + Group Project | Emergency Prep Series
Help students explore one of the fastest-moving and most destructive natural hazards with this engaging, no-prep lesson focused on wildfires and emergency preparedness.
In this collaborative activity, students research wildfires and create a practical Emergency Preparedness Plan outlining what to do before fire season, during an active wildfire, and after the fire passes.
This resource is part of the Emergency Prep Series—designed to combine inquiry, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving in a highly engaging classroom format.

What Students Will Learn
Students will:
- Understand what causes wildfires and why many are started by human activity
- Explore how: - Wind
- Dry conditions
- Drought
- Fuel on the ground
affect wildfire spread

- Learn what: - Defensible space
- Ember-resistant homes
- READY / SET / GO evacuation levels
mean in real emergencies

- Investigate how wildfire smoke can affect air quality hundreds of miles away
- Create a realistic emergency preparedness plan for a family living in a wildfire-prone area
- Present and justify the most important safety step in their plan

What’s Included
- ✔️ Teacher Direction Page (sub-friendly timeline format)
- ✔️ Student Research + Planning Organizer (Color)
- ✔️ Black & White version (printer-friendly)
- ✔️ Structured group project framework
- ✔️ Reflection + discussion opportunities

Perfect for:
- Sub plans
- Science lessons
- Environmental science units
- Emergency preparedness units
- Cross-curricular learning

About the Emergency Prep Series
The Emergency Prep Series helps students investigate natural disasters and extreme weather events through:
- Inquiry-based research
- Collaborative planning
- Real-life preparedness scenarios
Each lesson challenges students to think:
👉 “What would we actually do in this situation?”

Why Teachers Love This
- No prep required
- Easy for substitutes to implement
- Strong student engagement
- Structured teamwork and discussion
- Practical, meaningful learning experience