Theme | About Thunderstorms and cyclones |
Relevant Grades | Class 6 & 7 |
Key Learning Objectives |
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Session Duration | 1 Hour (Approximately) |
- THE MISSION
There are huge thunderstorms and cyclones occurring in two different cities of a country. You are the chief executive in the disaster management committee and it is your responsibility to prevent humans being affected, injured due to the thunderstorm and cyclone and you have a team of three people for executing this mission. There is a technological error where the message of a cyclone and thunderstorm was not announced to the people of the locality and hence you and your team have to physically go to the localities and protect all the people from any harm from the thunderstorm and cyclone. Completion of protection of the people from the thunderstorm as well from the cyclone. The gamer has to strategically play and design the game as the travel to both the cities consists of going through deserts, a mountain and a maze like path with harmful animals to reach the destination. The player, on successful completion of saving people from both the calamities earns a very precious and famous diamond with 500 points as a prize for their bravery from the kings of both the cities. If you lose the challenge, you will be punished and put in a cell with dragons and will also lose your chance to earn the diamond or the 500 points.
- CONCEPTS
Although monsoon winds are important for agricultural purposes and in regulating the temperature conditions of a place, sometimes excess of rainfalls and strong winds can lead to natural disasters such as thunderstorms and cyclones
- Thunderstorms
- An event in the environment in which strong winds blow accompanied by heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning are called thunderstorms.
- Thunderstorms occur in hot and humid tropical regions mainly. These regions generally have higher temperatures which cause winds.
- These hot winds when moved upwards also have water vapour within them which freezes and falls on the earth as rain.
- The rainfall and rising air create lightning in the air accompanied by sound and as a result, a thunderstorm occurs.
Precautions that one should take during a thunderstorm:
- One should not take shelter under an isolated tree during storm and lightning. Instead, one can take shelter under a small tree if near a forest area
- One should not lie on the ground.
- One should not use or carry an umbrella which has a metallic rod.
- One should stay away from windows and doors at that time.
- One should not take shelter in an open garage, metal shed or storage sheds.
- It is advisable to take a shelter in a car for a bus.
- One should not stay in the water. People should try to move inside a building as soon as possible.
- Cyclones
Clouds are formed due to water vapour in the air. As the water turns into vapour, it takes up the heat from the atmosphere. When the water vapour turns into clouds and falls back as raindrops the same heat is released back into the atmosphere. This heat warms up the air around the raindrops and the warm air starts rising. This leads to decreasing their pressure in the region. So, the air from the surroundings takes the place of the warm air. This cycle continues until the rain falls. As a result, a very low-pressure region is created and strong winds start revolving in that low-pressure region. This is the condition of a cyclone.
The formation of a cyclone that depends upon different factors:
- the temperature of the place
- the wind speed
- the direction of the winds
- the humidity of the place
Structure of a Cyclone:
- Cyclone is a rotation of air in the atmosphere at a height of around 10 to 15 km.
- The centre of the cyclone (also called the eye of the storm) is a clean area where there are no clouds but only light winds.
- This area ranges from 10 to 30 km in diameter.
- The cloud region lies around this eye and has a diameter of around 150 km.
- The cloud region has high-speed winds blowing at 150 to 250 km per hour accompanied by heavy rainfall.
- The first indication of a cyclone can be observed when strong winds start flowing and pushing away the water from the shores.
The destruction caused by a cyclone:
- Cyclones can result in extremely high waves in the sea or ocean because of the low pressure. These waves can be 3 to 12m high.
- When these high waves hit the shore it results in the destruction of life and property to a great extent.
- The soil of the area also loses its fertility after a cyclone.
- Floods can appear if rainfall continues for a longer duration.
- High-speed winds in the cyclone affect the telephonic communication lines, uproot trees, damage houses and cause loss of life.
Other names of a cyclone:
- Hurricane – American continent
- Typhoon – Japan and the Philippines
Tornado
A tornado is a weather condition when a cloud having a dark funnel-shape reaches the ground. The diameter of a tornado can range from one meter to several kilometres. The tornadoes can be formed within cyclones as well. In a tornado, winds blow at high speed of 300 km per hour. The funnel-like shape of a tornado sucks everything that comes near it at the base because of the low pressure exerted by the winds. It then throws the things upwards. Hence, tornados can be devastating.
Protecting yourself from a tornado:
- To protect oneself in a tornado one should take shelter in an underground room with no windows.
- If in a room with windows, one should close them and hide under a table or a workbench.
- One should bow down on the knees protecting their neck and head using their arms.
- Safety measures
There should be a cyclone forecasting service that can want the people of a particular area that can be hit by a cyclone. The speed of winds plays a major role in predicting any calamity like cyclones hence the speed of wind in coastal areas should be measured regularly. Anemometer is a device that can measure the speed of the Wind.
The warnings should be communicated rapidly to the citizens, ships that are sailing in the sea, government agencies and fisherman as well. Along with this, cyclone shelters should be built in coastal areas and agencies should be appointed who can help the people at the time of calamity.
How individuals can protect themselves from cyclones?
- One should not ignore the warnings given by the weather forecasting team. If you can, you must move to safe places and carry all your important belongings with you.
- One should not drive on roads that have standing water as they might be damaged.
- One should keep all the emergency numbers with themselves so that they can seek help when required.
What to do if you are living in a cyclone hit area?
- The water in such regions can be contaminated. Hence one should make sure if the water is safe and only then drink it.
- One should stay away from power lines for electrical switches of any kind.
- One should stay at home or at the shelters and should not move out unnecessarily.
- One should not put unnecessary demands to the rescue team and should cooperate with them.
- One should help each other in such a situation.
Role of Technology in predicting and protecting from the cyclone:
- The satellites and radars have made it possible to predict cyclones ahead of time so that appropriate precautionary measures can be taken accordingly.
- There are now several National and international organizations that monitor cyclone-related issues.
- Generally, a cyclone watch or a cyclone and alert is issued every 48 hours in advance if a storm is expected in an area.
Then a cyclone warning is issued before 24 hours. This warning is then broadcasted in the area after intervals of half an hour or 1 hour.
GAME DESIGN
- Problem statement
There are huge thunderstorms and cyclones occurring in two different cities of a country. You are the chief executive in the disaster management committee and it is your responsibility to prevent humans being affected, injured due to the thunderstorm and cyclone and you have a team of three people for executing this mission. There is a technological error where the message of a cyclone and thunderstorm was not announced to the people of the locality and hence you and your team have to physically go to the localities and protect all the people from any harm from the thunderstorm and cyclone. Completion of protection of the people from the thunderstorm as well from the cyclone. The gamer has to strategically play and design the game as the travel to both the cities consists of going through deserts, a mountain and a maze like path with harmful animals to reach the destination. The player, on successful completion of saving people from both the calamities earns a very precious and famous diamond with 500 points as a prize for their bravery from the kings of both the cities. If you lose the challenge, you will be punished and put in a cell with dragons and will also lose your chance to earn the diamond or the 500 points.
- Game design overview
There are huge thunderstorms and cyclones occurring in two different cities of a country. You are the chief executive in the disaster management committee and it is your responsibility to prevent humans being affected, injured due to the thunderstorm and cyclone and you have a team of three people for executing this mission. There is a technological error where the message of a cyclone and thunderstorm was not announced to the people of the locality and hence you and your team have to physically go to the localities and protect all the people from any harm from the thunderstorm and cyclone. Completion of protection of the people from the thunderstorm as well from the cyclone. The gamer has to strategically play and design the game as the travel to both the cities consists of going through deserts, a mountain and a maze like path with harmful animals to reach the destination. The player, on successful completion of saving people from both the calamities earns a very precious and famous diamond with 500 points as a prize for their bravery from the kings of both the cities. If you lose the challenge, you will be punished and put in a cell with dragons and will also lose your chance to earn the diamond or the 500 points. The player has to pass all these obstacles and win the game strategically.
- How to design the game?
- Step I
There are huge thunderstorms occurring in a country. You are the chief executive in the disaster management committee and it is your responsibility to prevent humans being affected, injured due to the thunderstorm and you have a team of three people for executing this mission. There is a technological error where the message of a thunderstorm coming was not announced to the people of the locality and hence you and your team have to physically go to the localities and protect all the people from any harm from the thunderstorm. Completion of protection of the people from the thunderstorm should be done.
Hint: The gamer and his team will have to pass through a huge desert which tends to suck people as there are a lot of areas in the desert where there is quicksand and you should be ready with ways to protect your teammates. If you lose one team mate, you lose 50% of your life in the game. You have to then cross a mountain and then go to the city. If you do not go to the city within 10 minutes, the citizens get affected by the thunderstorm and you lose the game and will be sent to the dungeon. You should safely do all the precautionary methods to prevent people being affected by the thunderstorm as soon as you reach the location.
- Step II
There are huge cyclones occurring in a country. You are the chief executive in the disaster management committee and it is your responsibility to prevent humans being affected, injured due to the cyclone and you have a team of three people for executing this mission. There is a technological error where the message of a cyclone coming was not announced to the people of the locality and hence you and your team have to physically go to the localities and protect all the people from any harm from the cyclone. Completion of protection of the people from the cyclone should be done.
Hint: To reach the city, you will have to cross a river that has no form of support system and hence rafts or boats have to be built to cross the river and the tides may push the boat and the people in it away which will lead to drowning of all the members in the team. Any loss of team members will lead to 50% reduction in the points and will also lead to the diamond not being given.
- Step III
The player, on successful completion of saving people from both the calamities earns a very precious and famous diamond with 500 points as a prize for their bravery from the kings of both the cities. If you lose the challenge, you will be punished and put in a cell with dragons and will also lose your chance to earn the diamond or the 500 points. The player has to pass all these obstacles and win the game strategically.
Hint: Successful completion of the step will lead to extension of the life of the player for another 100 years.
- ASSESSMENT
Learning Objective Based Evaluation (0-1) | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | ||
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Higher Order Thinking Skills | Problem Solving | Critical Thinking | Innovation | Creativity | ||
Q5 | Q6 | Q7 | Q8 | Q9 | Q10 | |
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Learning Objective Based Evaluation Total Score | /4 |
Higher Order Thinking Skills Total Score | /8 |
Total Score | /12 |
Learning Objective Based Evaluation
1 point Questions:
Q1. Where are the regions that thunderstorms mainly take place?
- Humid and hot regions
- Cold regions
- None of the above
Q2. Which of the following factors does the formation of a cyclone not depend on?
- Humidity
- the temperature of the place
- the wind speed
- Sunlight
Q3. Which of the following should not be done when caught in a cyclone?
- One should not ignore the warnings given by the weather forecasting team. If you can, you must move to safe places and carry all your important belongings with you
- One should drive on roads that have standing water
- One should keep all the emergency numbers with themselves so that they can seek help when required.
Q4. Which of the following actions should not be done during a thunderstorm?
- One should not take shelter under an isolated tree during storm and lightning. Instead, one can take shelter under a small tree if near a forest area.
- One should lie on the ground.
- One should not use or carry an umbrella which has a metallic rod
- None of the above
Evaluation of HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)
Identification of the Problem Statement:
Q5. What is the goal of the game that you have designed? (1 point)
______________________________________________________________
Q6. Does the game designed solve the problem? Justify your answer. (1 point)
______________________________________________________________
Solution of the Problem Statement:
Q7. Have you personally ever faced a thunderstorm or a cyclone? Describe the experience? (1 point)
______________________________________________________________
Q8. What are the precautionary measures you will take when faced with such a natural calamity? (1 point)
______________________________________________________________
Innovation in the Problem Statement:
Q9. What are the innovative aspects of the solution for which the game is designed? (2 points)
______________________________________________________________
Creativity in the Game Design:
Q10. Describe and explain the unique design elements used in the game. (2 points)
______________________________________________________________
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