Learning about Natural Hazards through Local Risk Assessment: A Secondary School Experience

This Learning Situation (LS) was implemented in the 4th year of compulsory secondary education (ESO) with students enrolled in the optional subject of Biology and Geology during the 2024 and 2025 academic years, at a secondary school in Mataró (Barcelona, Spain). The main objective of the activity was to engage students in the analysis of natural hazards through the preparation of a Risk Assessment Report focused on a familiar area, either their local environment or a location of personal interest.

The LS builds on previous learning about plate tectonics and associated geological hazards, and shifts the focus towards external geodynamics and surface processes. During the sessions, students explored landforms in relation to rock types and climatic conditions, and discussed how these factors influence the occurrence of natural hazards. Several recent news articles were used as case studies to analyse external geological risks in Catalonia, with particular attention to the most frequent hazards in the region, such as flooding and rockfalls. For each case, students examined the causes of the events and the measures adopted to reduce risk.

Working in pairs, students selected a specific area and produced a risk assessment report using information from different sources and, whenever possible, through field observation and site visits. A checklist outlining the minimum required content of the report was provided to support the task. The activity concluded with an oral presentation in which each group shared the analysed area and reflected on their main learning outcomes. This teaching approach promotes place-based learning, connects scientific concepts with real-world contexts, and increases students’ awareness of natural hazards and risk management in their own environment.