The Outbreak - There is giant breakout of thunderstorms across the United States and it is up to your students to help the people in various regions figure out how far each storm is away! Your students will first gain the understanding that the distance of a thunderstorm can be calculated by counting the number of seconds between lightning and thunder and dividing that value by five. This will give you the distance, in miles, your storm is away. Once they grasp this concept your students wil