"Floods, earthquakes and volcanoes do not need to become disasters," says the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), a Geneva-based consortium dedicated to preventing disasters. Now the ISDR has released a new online game to teach children aged 9 through 16 -- "the future architects, mayors, doctors, and parents of the world" -- how to keep disasters from happening.

The game's object is to build safer villages and cities by locating and constructing houses so they can survive natural hazards, and preparing residents through early warning systems, evacuation plans and education. While the game is single-player (scores are saved and ranked against those of all the other players in the world), the ISDR encourages groups of children in a classroom to play collaboratively so they can discuss strategies. There's additional learning material for students and teachers on the ISDR Web site.