Title:  Weathering the Storm

Subject(s):  Science, Math, Language Arts

Learner Outcomes:

• The student will determine what causes weather and storms.
• The student will identify what causes thunder and lightning.
• The student will identify the characteristics of and differentiate among thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
• The student will identify safety measures to follow during thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

Duration of Lesson:  3 days (50 min. each)

Materials;  lamp, thin paper, thread, multiple copies of Storms by Seymour Simon,
                 reference books on storms

Technology Tools/Courseware:  Internet accessible computers, projector, e-mail,
                                               Microsoft Word

Teacher Notes:  Students need a signed AUP form on file.  Materials and
                         methods can be adjusted to meet the needs of individual
                         classrooms.
 

Procedures:

• Introduce atmospheric conditions in a storm by doing this Activity.  Suspend from a thread a spiral made from a 4 inch circle of paper.  Hold the spiral over the hot bulb of a lamp.   (Avoid contact with the hot bulb.)  Discuss what happened and what it shows about air movement.  What happens to air above very warm land?  Where are there frequent thunderstorms?  Why?  Where are there fewer storms?  Why?  Which season(s) are most likely to produce thunderstorms?
• Group students in teams of 4 or 5 members.  Distribute copies of Storms to each team.  Distribute Chart 1  and Chart 2 to be completed by team members as they read Storms.

• Review Storms by Seymour Simon by defining tornado, hurricane, eye,  microburst, storm surge, and wind gust.
• Discuss what causes storms and what causes thunder and lightning.
• Have teams visit these web sites to help them complete the charts which were begun on Day 1:

• Students may also use reference books on storms to complete charts.

• Discuss the charts completed by the students. Teacher Chart 1 and Teacher Chart 2 can be projected to show students the correct or acceptable answers.
• Have students look for similarities and differences between and among storms.  Have  students then form generalizations  about storms.  Recorders on the teams can record the generalizations generated by the class on Microsoft Word.   Examples of generalizations:

• Review thunderstorms by projecting these web sites for the class to answer as a group.

•  Give the class a written assessment to score.

Enrichment Activities:

• Disaster Math (Hurricanes and Tornadoes)
• Explore Lightning Myths.
• Explore Tornado Myths
• Explore Hurricane Scale of Intensity.
• Explore Tornado Intensity Scale
• Read about children's experiences with storms and have students submit their own experiences using e-mail.
• Kids relate to kids about storms
• Do an Activity on tracking hurricanes using latitude and longitude.
• Research how hurricanes are named
• Research Hurricane Warning.

National Standards:
        Science
            1.  Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle.
            2.  Understands earth's composition and structure.
        Math
            3. Uses basic and advanced properties performing the process of
                computation.
            6.  Understands and applies basic and advanced concepts of statistics
                and data analysis.
        Reading
             7.  Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a
                  variety of informational texts.
        Technology
              1.  Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and
                  operating systems.
        Geography
               1.  Understands characteristics and uses of maps, globes, and other
                   geographical tools and technology.
        Writing
               4.  Gathers and uses information for research purposes.

State Standards:
       Science:  4.2; 4.9; 4.17; 4.22; 4.24; 4.25; 5.15; 5.16; 5.17; 5.27; 5.30;
                       5.31; 6.4; 6.5; 6.13; 6.15; 6.16; 6.17; 6.27; 6.52; 6.63; 6.66
        Math:  4.18; 5.11; 6.9
        Reading:  4.23; 4.27; 5.16; 5.26; 6.20; 6.22; 6.27
 

Job/Career Clusters:  Science and Natural Resources

References:
       Storms by Seymour Simon (ISBN-0-15-305221-X)
       Storms and Hurricanes by Kathy Gemmell (Scholastic, Inc.)
       The Sierra Club Book of Weatherwisdom by Vicki McVey
            (ISBN 0-15-305227-9)
       Storms Ahead!  Owlie Skywarn's Weather Book (FEMA)
       A Hurricane Preparedness Guide  (American Red Cross, NOAA, FEMA)
       Thunderstorms and Lightning: A Preparedness Guide (American Red Cross,
            NOAA, FEMA)
 

Author:  Linda Work, Ruth Potts, Peggy Grantham
South Jefferson Elementary

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