Why Does Jakarta Flood So Easily?

Videos

Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Geography

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Crash Course

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What it is

This Crash Course video explains that while Jakarta is located in a natural delta region, sea level rise, urbanization, and human reliance on underground aquifers for drinking water have made flooding much more intense in the region.
Students will learn about natural flood plains, different types of streams, changes to the landscape that affect water infiltration into the soil and groundwater, and the vital role of wetlands in reducing flooding.

Teaching tips

Positives

This video offers a comprehensive overview of complex factors (both natural and human-created) that contribute to flooding.
The fast-paced and interesting visuals will keep students engaged.

Prerequisites

Students should be familiar with the terms aquifer, groundwater, precipitation, storm surge, permeable, and subsidence.
This video is very fast-paced, and students would benefit from frequent pausing, especially when vocabulary terms are defined or graphs are presented.

Differentiation & Implementation

Biology classes can investigate the comparison made in the video between kidneys and wetlands to see how each acts as a filter.
Social studies classes can research the crops that grow well in the natural flood plains of Indonesia and learn how increased flooding has changed agriculture in the region.
Science classes can visit the two websites suggested in the video, U.S. Geological Survey's "Science in Your Watershed" and EPA's WATERS GeoViewer, to find out more about their local watersheds.
After watching the video, students can discuss how climate change and its effect on the water cycle can impact flooding.
Other resources related to this topic include this article on protecting coastal communities and this lesson plan on exploring sea level rise solutions.

From the scientist review

The video provides an explanation of the mechanism of flooding and how it can be prevented through sustainable land use management. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Biology, Geography
Language: English
Location: Asia, Earth, Oceania
Provider: Crash Course
Authors: Crash Course
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-ESS3-3. + 9 more

Core

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

MS-ESS3-3.Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
MS-ESS3-4.Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
MS-ESS3-C.1.Human activities have significantly altered the biosphere, sometimes damaging or destroying natural habitats and causing the extinction of other species. But changes to Earth’s environments can have different impacts (negative and positive) for different living things. (MS-ESS3-3)

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Science and Engineering

MS-ESS2-4Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS3-2Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
HS-ESS3-1Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
HS-ESS3-6Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.

Social Studies

Geography1 (D2): Students understand the geography of the community, Maine, the United States, and various regions of the world, and geographic influences on life in the past, present, and future by describing the impact of change on the physical and cultural environment.
Geography1 (F2): Students understand the geography of the United States and various regions of the world and the effect of geographic influences on decisions about the present and future by evaluating and developing a well-supported position about the impact of change on the physical and cultural environment.
Geography1 (D2): Students understand the geography of the United States and various regions of the world and the effect of geographic influences on decisions about the present and future by using inquiry to predict and evaluate consequences of geographic influences.

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