Year 5 Natural Disaster Writing Showcase

This term, Year 5 students have been learning about natural disasters through our integrated English and Geography unit. As part of their writing lessons, students imagined themselves experiencing a natural disaster such as a flood, cyclone, earthquake or tsunami. They focused on using sensory and descriptive language, showing an emotional response, choosing precise vocabulary, and applying accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling. The following pieces represent some of the most powerful and evocative writing from our class, each one vividly capturing the tension, fear and resilience of people facing nature’s extremes.

Cyclone

We slam our door, as we prepare for the ultimate strike. My heart is pounding and beating fast like a war has begun. We hide ourselves in our mini basement. We feel microscopic as the powerful beast comes on top of us. The strong roof turned weak to the beast as it catapulted into the savage monster. As we embrace the hit I stick and glue myself to my dad. The horrid whistling, crackling wind hits our ears, we try to cover them but the beast blows them off with one blow. My father held me with all his strength but it was impossible to grip me. The beast nipped me up into the glassy, sharp air with one of my rings. I try to reach out and grab it but then I see a large rotten tree flying towards me. I close my eyes and think to myself, “This is the end.”

Poppy Davidson

Tsunami

As my fiance walks down the church with her father, I feel a little bit off. Something isn't right, I whisper to my brother that something feels off, just as I say this there is a loud siren echoing through the walls. No please not today! I'm about to get married! Everyone freaks out and I check my phone. Crap, tsunami warning. I should have listened to the warning. I run to my fiance and clutch her as we climb to the top of the church. As we get to the top of the church I see a humongous wave that's taller than the eiffel tower. I feel sick, how could the best day of my life become the last. The monstrous wave swallows buildings one after another like a titanium tsunami, nothing can stop it. I can’t help but feel scared. Men are meant to be brave, not scared. I look at the ground and I see people on the road, clutching their children and sprinting away. I take one last look at my family, mum, dad, my brothers and my beautiful fiance with a petrified look on her face. I give her one last hug as I feel a cold rush hit me. This is it, this is the end.

Lane Tyack

BLIZZARD 🌨️❄️🌨️❄️🌨️❄️

I was shaking with fear, the wind came hurling in, making life colder. I see my breaths in the air, warmer than outside. Dad closes all the doors with a loud bang and thud. We hide in the corner hoping life will show mercy, the cold wind opens the windows making the room colder. We all hurry closing the windows, snowflakes flowing in, I don’t think we are safe here anymore. As I said under my shivering breath, I remember when we went to the carnival and had snow cones, it smelled just like there, just much colder now. As we trembled in the corner, wind kept gushing in from small cracks, the ice wasn't cracking when I breathed over them. Dad remembered the fluffy soft blanket we knitted as a family. He went out of the corner, he was shivering even more. He grabbed the cold blanket and ran back as fast as possible, coveting us with it. The blanket may be small but it's like a shield to the wind.

Karter Dobson

Cyclone

The dreaded monster swirled above us like an angry ballerina. My family and I waited and watched, fear and terror tumbling around the room. Dad was trying to calm us down, but the creature outside disagreed. I could smell wet tin, as the roofs of houses flew past me; gulped down by the beast and sent to an ocean of debris. I was confused. My mind was racing, and my ears hurt as I listened to the roaring wind. It shook our home, we clutched eachother tight. Though soon, heroes came to help us escape the wreckage. We were safe.

Charlotte Shepherd

Cyclone

The wind howled, bursting into houses. I sprinted as the little drops of rain cut through my skin. It roars and rages trying to break free, I run and run as I see everything going away, all my memories, all in that little house just to see it blow away. As the monster crumbles houses and charges, I hear faint screams, babies and little kids crying. I feel the harsh breeze rush through my hair. My lips go numb and my heart starts to swell. Fear twists through my stomach and I gulp a great big ball of worry.

Aavnaya Parajuli

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What Students are Working On at Catherine McAuley Term 4, Week 5 · 12 Nov 2025

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