Lesson Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Make a Tornado

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore factors that influence why certain areas in the United States have more tornadoes than others and observe a model to visualize what is happening during a tornado.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Exploring Weather Disasters

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
During this lesson plan, students will discover the differences in four types of weather disasters. They will collect information from selected Internet websites and create a multimedia presentation to demonstrate what they have learned.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Are You Prepared?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Natural disasters come in many different forms. In order to be better prepared, students have to know the different types of disasters. In this lesson students will research natural disasters in order to create a brochure highlighting an...
Article
Scholastic

Scholastic: Tornado: Q & A

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a question an answer concerning tornadoes including how they are formed, what the funnel looks like, how tornadoes end, which are more dangerous: tornado or hurricane, inside the "eye" of a hurricane or tornado, and more.
Article
Scholastic

Scholastic: Tornado

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an article by John Griffiths that discusses tornadoes including a definition, characteristic behaviors, clauses and classifications, and occurrences.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: The Deadliest Tornado in u.s. History Blindsided the Midwest in 1925

For Students 9th - 10th
Now known as the Tri-State Tornado, it turned March 18 into a day of gruesome destruction and bizarre survival stories. This tornado hit Missouri, Illinois and Indiana and resulted in nearly 700 deaths.
Unit Plan
Other

Kean: Weather Systems [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
No scientific phenomena concern us as much as the daily evolution of weather systems. We live in a culture where weather, the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place,helps us define regional cultural variations. States such as...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Text Sets: Nature and Conservation

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about how the natural world interacts with itself and how people impact the planet with this science-based text collection of 46 Grade-Leveled texts (3-12) on the topic of Nature and Conservation. [Free account registration...
Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: Your Cool Facts and Tips on Tornadoes

For Students 4th - 8th
Features a brief explanation of tornadoes, how they form, their impact, and survival tips.
Graphic
University of Wisconsin

Uw Madison: The Fujita Tornado Damage Scale

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a simple chart explaining the levels of tornado damage on the Fujita scale.
Activity
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Make a Tornado

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site is provided for by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Make a tornado or a twister in a jar. The step by step directions give a clear description of how to make these items.
Website
University of Illinois

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Tornadoes

For Students 9th - 10th
Great photos of actual tornadoes. This page gives you general information about tornadoes.
Website
Weather Wiz Kids

Weather Wiz Kids: Tornadoes

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This is a great resource for everything tornadoes. Learn things like how they form, how they stop, and when they are most likely to occur. You can also keep an eye on tornadoes in your area.
Article
Other

Lehigh University: Weather Factoids

For Students 3rd - 8th
How many times does lightning strike the Empire State Building? What state is know as the lightning capital of the U.S.? What time of day do tornadoes usually occur? Find out the answers to these questions and more on this enlightening...
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: Tornado!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Use this site to explore how engineers and architects are able to create tornado-proof designs for houses and other buildings.
PPT
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Weather Systems: Lesson 2

For Students 5th - 8th
This lesson will discuss the effects of the weather on living things. It is 2 of 3 in the series titled "Weather Systems."
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Weather Systems: Lesson 3

For Students 5th - 8th
This lesson will discuss the effects of the weather on living things. It is 3 of 3 in the series titled "Weather Systems."
PPT
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Weather Systems: Lesson 1

For Students 5th - 8th
This lesson will discuss the effects of the weather on living things. It is 1 of 3 in the series titled "Weather Systems."
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Earth Science for Kids: Weather: Tornadoes

For Students 1st - 9th
Explore tornadoes on this website! Kids learn about tornadoes including how they form, characteristics, types including supercell and waterspout, categories, and fun facts.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Tornado Experiment

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart has a full lesson plan (with standards and adaptations) about Tornadoes. An experiment is included with materials description, pictures, and every step. It is intended to be easy to read...
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Tornados in the Us

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Overview: In this lesson, students will learn the basics about how tornadoes are formed, and when and where they are most likely to occur. They will learn that the United States is the country most...
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Life Cycle of a Tornado

For Students 4th - 6th
Describes the three stages of a tornado's life cycle.
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Effects of Tornadoes

For Students 4th - 6th
Provides some facts about tornadoes and describes their impact.
Website
USA Today

Usa Today: Rising Air Creates Spring, Summer Ice

For Students 9th - 10th
This article gives you basic information on hail. There are links at the bottom of the page to how hail forms, how updrafts breed hail and thunderstorms.