Curated OER
Weather Dude: Thunder and Lightning
Weather site highlights the severe weather occurrences of thunder and lightning. Click on the link to hear a music clip.
Other
National Lightning Safety Institute: Personal Lightning Safety
This website provides a variety of resources to help you stay safe from lightning.
PBS
Nova Teachers: Lightning: Classroom Activity
This lesson plan allows students can create static electricity and compare it to lightning.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Boom Boom Thunder!!
The focus of this lesson is for students to determine why thunder makes the "Boom" sound. Through hands-on activities students will become familiar with the sound thunder makes.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Thunder and Lightning
Lightning is the most spectacular element of a thunderstorm. Learn how lightning forms, and how lightning leads to thunder.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: How Lightning Forms
Weather site for kids provides information as to how lightning impacts our lives. Discover lightning safety tips, how to tell how far away a storm is, how lightning forms as well as read an amazing story about ball lightning.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Nova Science Now Lightning: Lightning Varieties
Compare and contrast different types of lightning bolts. A substantial amount of information is provided here including pictures with descriptions for each type of lightning bolt. NOTE: The interactive is no longer available; Click on...
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: Light on Lightning! Danger!
Experience the acoustical shadow caused by a lightning bolt, and discover the dangers of a lightning storm.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Lightning
This activity will demonstrate the attraction of positive and negative charges and what happens when those opposite charges meet each other.
NASA
Nasa: Spirits of Another Sort
What is a sprite? Read this article to learn more and even discover how to find one. (June 10, 1999)
NASA
Nasa: Where Lightning Strikes
A written and audio story about where in the world lightning has most often struck and is most likely to strike. Discusses how NASA was able to obtain this information. (Dec. 5, 2001)
Library of Congress
Loc: Everyday Mysteries: What Causes the Sound of Thunder
Detailed description of the scientific cause of thunder.
Weather Wiz Kids
Weather Wiz Kids: Lightning
Discover everything there is to know about lightning using this site. Find out what causes lightning, how far away lightning is, how to make lightning yourself, and much more.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Learning Zone
This comprehensive, interactive site is loaded with information, activities, and stories about thunderstorms, lightning, and tornadoes. Find out how these weather systems are formed, how they impact our lives, and how they cause chaos.
Other
K 3 Learning Pages: Web Resources Thunderstorms
Check out this comprehensive list of web resources on thunderstorms and safety. Students and teachers will benefit from the links found on this site.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Thunderstorms
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How thunderstorms form and their effects.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Thunderstorms
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How thunderstorms form and their effects.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Charles Burchfield
Charles Burchfield is profiled at this site in a format that begins with a brief biographical sketch of his life. His works are then listed by appearance in the museum's database. Each work is presented in thumbnail format with brief...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 7.rp Thunder and Lightning
Alyssa sees a lightning bolt in the sky and counts four seconds until she hears the thunder. Aligns with 7.RP.A.
McREL International
Mc Rel: Thunder Clouds [Pdf]
A worksheet regarding rain, clouds, thunder and lightening.
NOAA
Noaa: Photo Library: Lightning Photo 3
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a photo library of severe weather formations. Utilizing time-lapse photography, this image captures numerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes during a nighttime thunderstorm...
NOAA
Noaa: Photo Library: Lightning Photo 1
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a photo library of severe weather formations. This photograph is of several strokes of lightning striking during a nighttime thunderstorm.
NOAA
Noaa: Photo Library: Lightning Photo 2
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a photo library of severe weather formations. Utilizing time-lapse photography, this photograph captures multiple cloud-to-ground lightning strokes during a nighttime...
NOAA
Noaa: Photo Library: Lightning Photo 4
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a photo library of severe weather formations. Using time-lapse photography, this image captures numerous cloud-to-ground lightning strokes during a nighttime thunderstorm in...