Severe Weather - Tornadoes

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

We enjoy nice weather and not-so-nice weather. Sometimes weather is downright scary or overwhelming! This lesson will share more information with you about an extreme weather product called a tornado. This lesson will help you make good, safe decisions if you ever encounter a tornado!

Weather is the condition of the air or atmosphere. Severe weather is any dangerous act of nature that puts people, animals, or buildings at risk. Some kinds of severe weather are more likely than others in a given region or area. Weather scientists, or meteorologists, forecast severe weather so that communities can prepare for and respond to these weather events. Types of severe weather include thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards. In this lesson, you will investigate the characteristics and formation of tornadoes as well as tornado preparedness using videos, hands-on activities, and interesting projects.

A tornado is a fast-spinning column of air that stretches all the way to the earth’s surface. Learn about tornadoes by completing the activities in this section.

1. Begin a KWL Chart for this lesson. Download Graphic Organizer – 3 Column Chart found in the Downloadable Resources in the right-hand sidebar. At the top of the first column, write or discuss with your instructor What Do I KNOW? At the top of the second column, write or discuss with your instructor What Do I WANT to Know? At the top of the third column, write or discuss What Did I LEARN? Before watching the videos, write what you KNOW about tornadoes in the first column and what you WANT to know about tornadoes in the second column. You may use words or drawings to convey your thoughts.

2. Watch What Is a Tornado? and Tornadoes 101 to learn about tornadoes and how they form. Pause the videos to take notes in the What Did I LEARN? column of your KWL chart as you learn new things. You can draw, write in the column, or discuss your responses with your instructor. You may have also thought of something else you WANT to know. You can add that to the second column and continue to research tornadoes. Share what you learned about tornadoes with a family member or friend.