Tsunamis
Cambridge Primary English Grade 5 · Unit 8: Natural disasters · Lesson 22 · Term 1 · Marshall Cavendish
Also known as: Relative clauses · Modal verbs · Disaster words
Play this lesson
Lesson idea
Harto's diary tells how he saved his grandma and sister from a tsunami in Bali, and we learn disaster words, defining relative clauses and modal verbs.
Lesson vocabulary: tsunami: a very large wave caused by an underwater earthquake · magnitude: the size of an earthquake · siren: a loud warning sound · swamped: covered with water · coastal: near the sea · disastrous: causing great damage · pace: speed of movement · offshore: in the sea, away from land
Key points
- We use the past continuous for a background action that was interrupted.
- Defining relative clauses use which for things, that for people and things, and who for people.
- Modal verbs are helping verbs followed by the base form of another verb.
Lesson questions (15)
- When did the disaster happen?
Answer: 26th December - What caused the tsunami?
Answer: A magnitude 9 earthquake offshore - Where is Harto's town?
Answer: Kuta in Bali - What was Harto doing when the warning came on TV?
Answer: Getting breakfast - What does the warning tell people near the coast to do?
Answer: Move to high ground immediately - When can people return?
Answer: When they hear the all-clear siren - Who taught Harto what to do?
Answer: His dad - Why did Harto use a wheelchair?
Answer: Grandma could not walk far - How far away was the nearest hill?
Answer: About 300 metres - How did Harto carry his little sister?
Answer: In a baby carrier on his back - What did Harto see about the sea before the wave?
Answer: The water was very far out - What had happened to their village?
Answer: It was swamped by the tsunami - Where will the family go to live for a while?
Answer: With an uncle in the mountains - Complete: We were resting on the hillside when my dad ___.
Answer: rang - Complete: My uncle ___ lives in the mountains asked us to stay.
Answer: who
About this lesson
“Tsunamis” is from Cambridge Primary English Grade 5 (Unit 8: Natural disasters) and has 15 questions with answers. Sample questions: “When did the disaster happen?” and “What caused the tsunami?”. Every question can be played in any Hessa Play game or activity.
How to use it in class
- Show the question on the board and let students think before the options appear.
- Split the class into two teams; every correct answer earns a point.
- Display it on the smart board, send it as homework by link, or play it solo or in two teams.
Related lessons
Questions about this lesson
Which linking words do we use?
which for things, who for people, and that for people and things.
What are modal verbs?
Auxiliary verbs such as can, must and should.
How is the past continuous used here?
We use the past continuous to describe the background, that is, what was in progress when an event interrupted it. Example: We were playing on the beach when the wave came.
Do students need an account to play this lesson?
No. The teacher shares the lesson link; the student types a first name and plays on a phone or computer, and the score reaches the teacher.
Which games suit this lesson?
You can play it in The Hunter, Complete the sentence, Match Up, Matching pairs and the other games and activities on Hessa Play.