Teaching sequence

Lesson objective

In this lesson students develop an understanding of how cyclones can impact on people and the environment and cause rapid changes to the Earth’s surface.

Introduction

Explain to the students that they are going to investigate how cyclones impact on people and the environment and cause rapid changes to the Earth’s surface. View the video Remembering Tracy. 

Based on the personal accounts in the video, discuss the impact that Cyclone Tracy had on the people of Darwin.

Revisit the images used in lesson 1 that show the effects of cyclones on people and the environment and allow students time to discuss the effects they notice in the photos. They can use this information to support them in the next part of the lesson.

Core

1. Organise students into groups of four and give each student one of the pages from the worksheet The impact of cyclones (Word 440 KB). These are the groups that students will return to once they have worked with others.
2. Provide individual reading time. This is an opportunity for students to read their text and to begin developing an understanding of the information provided.
3. Organise students into groups of three or four according to the text they have been allocated (eg all students who have the section on ‘wind damage’ will meet together). These students then have the opportunity to read through the text together and engage in conversation about what they have read and their responses to the guide questions:
   • How do cyclones impact on people and the environment?
   • How do cyclones cause rapid change to the Earth’s surface?
4. Responses can be recorded in the appropriate section of the worksheet. Students could be provided with time to research any extra information with regards to their focus area using the Useful links section. Students then return to their original groups of four to share their expert knowledge. They are initially given one minute each to summarise their piece of text and share this with the rest of the group.
5. Once all four students have had the opportunity to summarise and share, the group can move into open discussion using the guide questions to assist them. Responses can be recorded in the appropriate section on the worksheet. It is the groups’ responsibility to ensure that all group members have an understanding of the different ways that cyclones can impact on people and the environment and cause rapid change to the Earth’s surface.

Conclusion

Ask students to individually create a representation that shows their understanding of how cyclones impact on people and the environment and cause rapid change to the Earth’s surface. This could include the use of drawings, written texts, models, the use of ICT or any other format the teacher thinks is appropriate at this stage.