Create a disaster response day that focuses on the questions: what are the problems (causes and effects)? What can, and should, be done? Who can, and who should, do it? Cross-curricular planning could involve science and geography (earthquakes, seismology), design and technology (safer buildings), English (media coverage), history (social effects of earthquakes), and citizenship. Ask students what they should aim to achieve, and how they can tell whether they have been successful?

Sample issues: how do we decide who we help? Why should we care about people we don’t know? What is the difference between short-term aid and a long-term solution? Should all rich countries be forced to help poorer ones? Activities can be found on many websites with information, resources, assemblies, and lesson ideas for primary and secondary. Try these to start: www.oxfam.org.ukcoolplanetteacherstsunamiindex.htm

and www.dfid.gov.uknews