Thunderstorms
Content Introduction/Explanation
Show students a variety of video clips of thunderstorms. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp9bKDHRfsM)
Ask students what they noticed happening in the video. (Rain, lightning, thunder)
It is important to include a variety of different video clips of thunderstorms in different parts of the world as well. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/watch-nasa-astronaut-films-thunder-storm-space-article-1.2168179)
Have students write down different aspects that they noticed in each video. Be sure to remind them to use details (what did it sound like? what did it look like? was it dark? sunny? etc.)
Ask students to share their ideas with the class
Have a class discussion about where rain, lightning, and thunder comes from
Record the students ideas on a board
Read a nonfiction book about thunderstorms
After the book is read, record the students misconceptions that they may have had about thunderstorms as well as the new information they learned.
Bring the students back together and ask them one last closing question: How can scientists around the world tell when a thunderstorm is coming? Have students bring their ideas to the next, share with their peers, and then show a video clip of how scientists and weathermen/women can detect in advance when a storm is coming.
Ask students what they noticed happening in the video. (Rain, lightning, thunder)
It is important to include a variety of different video clips of thunderstorms in different parts of the world as well. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/watch-nasa-astronaut-films-thunder-storm-space-article-1.2168179)
- What are the differences between thunderstorms in different parts of the world
- Why do you think that?
- What happens before the thunderstorm? (e.g., what does the air feel like? what does it smell like? What happens to the sky and clouds?)
- What happens after a thunderstorm?
Have students write down different aspects that they noticed in each video. Be sure to remind them to use details (what did it sound like? what did it look like? was it dark? sunny? etc.)
Ask students to share their ideas with the class
Have a class discussion about where rain, lightning, and thunder comes from
Record the students ideas on a board
Read a nonfiction book about thunderstorms
After the book is read, record the students misconceptions that they may have had about thunderstorms as well as the new information they learned.
Bring the students back together and ask them one last closing question: How can scientists around the world tell when a thunderstorm is coming? Have students bring their ideas to the next, share with their peers, and then show a video clip of how scientists and weathermen/women can detect in advance when a storm is coming.
Useful Links
WATCH: NASA astronaut films spectacular thunderstorm over Africa from International Space Station (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/watch-nasa-astronaut-films-thunder-storm-space-article-1.2168179)
This was written by NASA on the Daily News. Included is a video clip of a NASA astronaut filming thunderstorms from Africa from an international space station.
NASA's Fermi Catches Thunderstorms Hurling Antimatter into Space
(http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GLAST/news/fermi-thunderstorms.html) This is an article from the NASA website. Included is also a video clip of NASA’s Fermi catching thunderstorms so strong that they are actually hurling Antimatter into space. Although this may be a difficult concept for first graders to grasp, it could lead to a an engaging discussion about how scientists can observe thunderstorms from space.
Storm Chases
(http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/storm-chasers/)
Discovery channel also has many useful links that can be beneficial for teachers and students who are investigating thunderstorms. This particular link contains an article written by Discovery Channels “storm chasers” and also includes videos of storms that they have witnessed in different areas of the world.
This was written by NASA on the Daily News. Included is a video clip of a NASA astronaut filming thunderstorms from Africa from an international space station.
NASA's Fermi Catches Thunderstorms Hurling Antimatter into Space
(http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GLAST/news/fermi-thunderstorms.html) This is an article from the NASA website. Included is also a video clip of NASA’s Fermi catching thunderstorms so strong that they are actually hurling Antimatter into space. Although this may be a difficult concept for first graders to grasp, it could lead to a an engaging discussion about how scientists can observe thunderstorms from space.
Storm Chases
(http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/storm-chasers/)
Discovery channel also has many useful links that can be beneficial for teachers and students who are investigating thunderstorms. This particular link contains an article written by Discovery Channels “storm chasers” and also includes videos of storms that they have witnessed in different areas of the world.
Words to Know
- Weather: weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy.
- Rain: moisture condensed from the atmosphere that falls visibly in separate drops.
- Sound: vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear.
- Light: the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
- Lightning: the occurrence of a natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud, accompanied by a bright flash and typically also thunder.
- Thunder: a loud rumbling or crashing noise heard after a lightning flash due to the expansion of rapidly heated air.
- Storm: a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.
- Heat Lightning: a flash or flashes of light seen near the horizon, especially on warm evenings, believed to be the reflection of distant lightning on high clouds.
Key Concepts
Forecast
What happens before a thunderstorm?
What happens after a thunderstorm?
Use five tenses for before and after a thunderstorm
Difference in thunderstorms in deferente parts of the world
What happens before a thunderstorm?
What happens after a thunderstorm?
Use five tenses for before and after a thunderstorm
Difference in thunderstorms in deferente parts of the world
Children's Literature
Children's Literature (Non-Fiction)
Children's Literature (Teacher Resources)
NSTA Resources
Science 101 What Happens in a Thunderstorm by: H. Michael Mogil
Science 101 What Causes Lightning and Thunder? by: William C. Robertson, Ph.D.
Podcasts: New NASA Views of Storms in Space: Solar Science now and in the Future by: NSTA podcast
Blogging about the Weather by: Kyle Evans and Wendy Frazier (Science & Children)
Home Connections: ‘Round and ‘Round by: Kathleen Damonte (Science and Children)
Hands on Thunderstorms by: Mark H. Palmer
Flash to Bang by: William R. Veal and Robert A. Cohen
Science 101 What Causes Lightning and Thunder? by: William C. Robertson, Ph.D.
Podcasts: New NASA Views of Storms in Space: Solar Science now and in the Future by: NSTA podcast
Blogging about the Weather by: Kyle Evans and Wendy Frazier (Science & Children)
Home Connections: ‘Round and ‘Round by: Kathleen Damonte (Science and Children)
Hands on Thunderstorms by: Mark H. Palmer
Flash to Bang by: William R. Veal and Robert A. Cohen