Extreme Weather

In this lesson students investigate how weather forecasters predict extreme weather, and then model water vortexes in bottles to demonstrate how tornadoes form. Students learn about what weather forecasters do and how they work through some texts that provide ample visuals of this topic. After exploring and discussing extreme weather, students build a model of a vortex using an empty bottle to explore tornadoes as one example of extreme weather.

• Tornadoes are a kind of powerful and extreme weather. They also are connected to other forms of weather, including wind and rain. They can cause a lot of damage as they move through an area.
• Weather forecasters try to predict when different kinds of extreme weather will occur to give people time to prepare.

• Have you ever experienced extreme weather (any weather that is unusual, severe, or unseasonal)?
• Why are tornadoes a kind of weather event?
• Why is it useful for weather forecasters to know that tornadoes are most common where there is a lot of flat land?
• How do scientists predict when tornadoes are going to happen?
• Why is it important for people to know that a tornado might hit before the tornado actually happens?
• What weather comes with tornadoes?
• What can people do if they know that a tornado is likely to happen?

Misconception: The seasons cause weather to change.

Fact: Seasons have specific weather patterns associated with them, but they aren’t the cause of the weather. 

Tornado : a powerful storm that spins in a funnel-like shape

This hands-on activity is a mini-lesson in which students develop models of water vortexes in bottles, distinguishing between the model and the actual weather event of a tornado. Students deepen their exploration of tornadoes by discussing them and drawing them in their vocabulary book. Students will focus on the characteristics of a tornado, including color and shape.