No Prep Sub Plans: Natural Disasters — Sinkholes| Emergency Prep Series

No Prep Sub Plans: Natural Disasters — Sinkholes
Research + Group Project | Emergency Prep Series
Help students investigate one of the most surprising and unpredictable ground hazards with this engaging, no-prep lesson focused on sinkholes and emergency preparedness.
In this collaborative activity, students research sinkholes and create a practical Emergency Preparedness Plan outlining what to do before warning signs appear, during a collapse, and after a sinkhole forms.
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 how sinkholes form beneath the Earth’s surface
- Explore how water dissolves: - Limestone
- Gypsum
- Salt rock
creating underground spaces over time

- Learn about “karst terrain” and where sinkholes are most common
- Investigate warning signs including: - Cracks in walls or driveways
- Slumping ground
- Sticking doors and windows
- Sudden dips in lawns

- Examine how human activity can increase sinkhole risks
- Create a realistic emergency preparedness plan for a family living in a sinkhole-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
- Earth science units
- Natural disaster units
- Emergency preparedness lessons
- 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