Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Static Electricity Thunder and Lightning
An activity where students simulate the creation of thunder and lightning using simple materials, and learn how static electricity can produce sound.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Cambodian Myth of Lightning, Thunder, and Rain
Prumsodun Ok tells this empowering tale that still enlightens our world today, "Moni Mekhala Ream Eyso" the most sacred dance drama in Cambodia.
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...
NOAA
Noaa: Photo Library: Lightning Photo 5
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a photo library of severe weather formations. Originally appearing in National Geographic Magazine, this photograph captures a lightning strike above Norman, Oklahoma.
NOAA
Noaa: Photo Library: Lightning Photo 6
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides a photo library of severe weather formations. This photograph captures several lightning strikes during an early evening thunderstorm.
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.
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute Online: Electrified Ben
This site from the Franklin Institute Online provides a somewhat simplistic but interesting tale of Ben's electrical activities. Fine link to "electricity bells", in Franklin's own words. Some other links to projects, maybe not so...
Read Works
Read Works: Wild Weather
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about different types of March weather including: clouds, blizzards, thunder, lightning, and rainbows. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in cause and effect.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Rolling Thunder Cloud
This unbelievable photo shows an imposing rolling thunder cloud making its way over a city in the Netherlands. It dumps large amounts of water in the process and unleashes spectacular displays of thunder and lightning.
NOAA
Noaa: Thunderstorms
Do you know what to do if you're caught in a thunderstorm? This short online quiz will assess how well prepared you really are.
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.
Other
Boatsafe.com: How to Be a Storm Spotter
How can you learn to be a storm spotter? This site highlights information on the different types of clouds found in the different types of weather. View the photos of the various clouds. Scroll down to a summary of the information you...
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.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Thunderstorm Safety
Learn the safety guidelines for lighting and thunderstorms.
Weather Wiz Kids
Weather Wiz Kids: Thunderstorms
From thunder and lightning to watches and warnings, this comprehensive website provides detailed information about thunderstorms. You can even perform your own experiments!
E-learning for Kids
E Learning for Kids: Science: Vikings: What Is an Electric Circuit?
The god of thunder, Thor, controls thunder and lightning. Let's ask Thor about electric circuits.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Thunderstorms
Right now there are about two thousand thunderstorms going on around the world. While common, they can be dramatic with intense rain, hail, wind, lightning, thunder, and even tornadoes.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Thunderstorms
Informational weather site provides users with an abundance of weather information. Discover what thunderstorms are, where they occur the most frequently and the damage they can cause.
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...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Super Sparker
This is an activity using common household materials that will demonstrate a static electricity discharge.
Curated OER
Acid Rain
Explore this website and discover the wonders of lightning, thunder and rain. Students will have an opportunity to read a summary of the book "Lightning and Other Wonders of the Sky" and participate in some activities that correspond...
National Geographic
National Geographic: Weather
One of the first things you probably do every morning is look out the window to see what the weather is like. Looking outside and listening to the day's forecast helps you decide what clothes you will wear and maybe even what you will do...