"Several storms over the southeastern United States left behind acres of standing water and multiple deaths in September 2009. The governor of Georgia declared a state of emergency in the state’s 17 counties hardest hit by the floods, CNN reported. Deaths in Georgia alone totaled 7 by the morning of September 22, 2009, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution."
Have your students contrast the above map to this Average Rainfall Map:
The TRICK is that there are different units on each map! See if any of your students catch that! If not, hint that they need to look closer! Provide them with a conversion factor: 1 mm = 0.039 inches.
Then have them add the inches to the mm SE US Rainfall Map. Example: 300 mm = 11.8 mm. Then how much different is the one map from the other?
AH-HA! The bottom map shows a yearly average! See if any of your students catches that. If not, hint that there is still something wrong! Perhaps look for a monthly average chart online? Divide the total by 12 for average monthly?
BUT look closely at the title! This is only for one week! What is the usual/average/typical rainfall for one week? How can we find that? NOW can you contrast the maps???
WHAT FUN it is to teach your students to THINK!
