Subjects:   Science, Language Arts and Technology 

Learner Outcomes:    The students will understand where and how tornadoes form.

Duration of Lesson:  Two 30-45 minute lessons

Materials:    Tornado by Betsy Byars, Taming the Tornado Tube by Steve Spangler, two plastic soda bottles, water and tornado tube.

Technology Tools/Course work:  Internet, Encarta 1995.

Teacher Notes:    Permission slips to access the Internet must be obtained from each
student according to school's acceptable use policy.

Procedures:
1.  Read Tornado by Betsy Byars to the class.
2.  Discuss tornadoes.
3.  Explore tornadoes on the Internet.
4.  Look for tornadoes articles on Encarta 1995 CD Rom.
5.  Fill one plastic soda pop bottle 2/3 full with water and attach the tornado tube.
6.  Attach the second bottle to the other end of the tornado tube.  Make sure the bottles are screwed on securely so that the water does not leak.
7.  Place the connected bottles on a flat surface with the empty bottle on the bottom.  What happens?  Why doesn't the water begin to flow down from the top of the bottle?
8.  Here's why:  Even though the bottle appears empty, it is filled with air.  Air takes up space in the lower bottle, so the water can't flow into the bottom bottle unless the air has somewhere to go.
9.  Hold the end of the top bottle and swirl it in a circular motion.  The circular motion of the bottles causes the water to rotate in a circular motion. Gravity is acting on the water in the upper bottle and the water is dropping through the tornado tube.  The water avoids the center and the air from the bottom bottle is able to flow upward into the top bottle.

Modifications:   Have small groups of students prepare a brief tornado program using Power Point.  Check students Individualized Educational Plan for additional modifications.

Enrichment Activities: 
1.  Learn more about the inventor of the tornado tube, Craig Burnham, by reading Taming the Tornado Tube by Steve Spangler.
2.  Have tornado tube races as explained in Steve Spangler's Taming the Tornado Tube.
3.  Create a find-a-word puzzle using tornado related words.

Evaluation/Assessment: The student will be able to use a
United states map and locate "Tornado Alley."   

State and National Standards:   

West Virginia Department of Education, Content Standards and Objectives
Science (SC): 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.4, 4.2.5, 4.2.6, 4.2.7, 4.2.8, 4.2.9
Language Arts (RLA): 4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.6, 4.1.7, 4.1.8, 4.1.10, 4.1.13
Technology (TEC): 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.3.1, 4.3.3, 4.1.1, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.5.3

National Standards:
Science:  12.  Understands the nature of scientific inquiry.
Language Arts: 5. Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
Technology:  6. Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology.

References:

    Resources Cited:

• Byars, Betsy. Tornado. New York, New York. 1996
• Spangler, Steve. Taming the Tornado Tube.  Englewood, Colorado. 1995
• Encarta 1995.  CD Rom  Microsoft
  

•  United States Map
•  Tornado Alley
  

• Ask Jeeves website
• Puzzlemaker website
  

Overview	Lesson 1 Waves	Lesson 2 Tornadoes	Lesson 3 Thunderstorms	Lesson 4 Natural Disasters	Lesson 5 Movement of Air