Tornados
Content Introduction/Explanation
- Ask students: “What is a tornado?” “Have you ever seen a picture of a tornado? If so, what did it look like?” “Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?” “What does the land look like after a tornado has passed?”
- Turn off the lights and show the students this National Geographic Youtube video on the projector: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSajNLBH7cA
- Explain to students that the United States is the most susceptible country in the world for tornados. Most tornadoes that occur in the United States occur in “tornado alley”, which is located in the central part of the United States (pull down the map in the classroom to visually show this region of the United States. They usually occur when warm, moist air from the south mixes with cold, dry air from the north of the United States.
Useful Links
https://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA/Become-an-Eco-School/Tornadoes/Activites-Lesson-Plans.aspx
- This link provides teachers with climate and tornado activities and lesson plans. It separates the activities by grade levels, therefore the teacher will be able to find lessons that are developmentally appropriate for his or her children.
- This National Geographic Education resource provides the teacher with a lesson on tornadoes for students in grades K-2. It is very detailed and includes the materials, directions, and assessment the teacher could use while teaching his or her students about the basics of tornadoes.
- This link provides teachers with a video to visually show students the science behind tornadoes and how they are formed. It provides students with detailed information in a kid-friendly way through the BrainPop movie.
- This is a National Geographic Youtube video the teacher could use in the introductory lesson to visually show the students what tornadoes look like and how they can destruct civilization. This will give them a good visual representation of tornadoes, especially if students have never seen them before.
Words to Know
- Tornado: a violent, destructive storm in which powerful winds move around a central point
- Tornado alley: Great Plains region of the United States where more than the average number of tornadoes occurs
- Funnel colad: a rapidly rotating spiral cloud that is a tornado if it touches the surface of the Earth
- Wind: air moving in natural motion
- Cool/dry air: free from moisture
- South: bottom half of the United States
- Mixing: to combine or put together
- Warm/moist air: hot and wet air
- North: upper half of the United States
- Tornado warning: an alert when tornadoes are possible or occurring
- Tornado watch: an alert when weather conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms or tornadoes
- Doppler Radar: a radar tracking system that measures the speed and strength of tornadoes
- Vortex: a spiral, whirling mass of air that is a tornado
Key Concepts
Locations of tornadoes
Formation of tornadoes
Aftermath of tornados
How to protect yourself during a tornado
Formation of tornadoes
Aftermath of tornados
How to protect yourself during a tornado
Children's Literature (Fiction)
Children's Literature (Non-Fiction)
Children's Literature (Teacher Resources)
Teacher’s Weather Sourcebook
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Weather Whys
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Teach Your Kids About Tornadoes
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NSTA Resources
Touchable Tornadoes by: David Gilhousen
Home Connections ‘Round and ‘Round by: Kathleen Damonte
The Inner Workings of Severe Weather by: William R. Veal
The Severe Stuff by: William C. Robertson
Home Connections ‘Round and ‘Round by: Kathleen Damonte
The Inner Workings of Severe Weather by: William R. Veal
The Severe Stuff by: William C. Robertson