1 or 2 Double Lessons, but note there is an important part b as well (see main menu page for Term 1)

To recap (10 mins) some of the ideas and words we have learned in previous lessons, you can view the following animations (perhaps together as a class):

1) What type of flooding are we talking about? Ignore the fancy names, just see how a river (fluvial) flood is different from other types of flood.

Types of flood by rgs.org

2) This shows how rain in a whole drainage basin causes a river to over flow. But can you spot what is is wrong with one of the explanations given here for Thailand?

River Flood by ysgol-rhyngrwyd.wikispaces.com

3) See how the groundwater can be affected if the months are very wet (use the Model tab). You can also see some of the key words in action (use the Terms tab)

Groundwater by ees.as.uky.edu

and

Here is a mystery linked to the 2011 floods in Thailand:

To solve the mystery you need to download the set of  21 ‘cards’ by clicking on the image below.

Access the full set of 21 cards here.

Your task is to decide, ideally with a partner, which of these are the main answers to the mystery.

Stage 1 – Getting familiar with the cards

You should take care to read the cards and be familiar with what they are about.

As you do this you could be making brief notes on the cards, as you will be using this information later.

To help you, you should view the interactive map below. Scroll in and out with a middle scroll wheel on your mouse or use the up and down arrow keys.

Tip: select More in the bottom right corner and then choose full-screen on one person’s computer, while you view the cards on the another computer.

and

Stage 2 – Sorting The Cards

Now you should sort the cards. You could create different groups. You should also be trying to decide which are the most important causes. Make sure you discuss and agree on your groupings with your partner(s).

Stage 3 – Deciding on the most important causes of the floods

By the end of this session you should have decided, ideally as a pair, what the six most important causes of the floods are. These don’t need to be the same as the cards – one cause might be connected to more than one card for example. You should also divide the 6 main causes into two different groups of three – it is up to you and your partner how you do this.

The mystery is an adapted version of an activity created by Simon Scoones for IB Level Geography, as documented at geograpinthenews hosted by the RGS here.