Gutman/Hodge
Severe Weather
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Presenters:
Rebecca Hodge
Courtney Gutman
Michigan Grade Level
E.ES.01.23- Describe severe weather events
Grade Level: 1st grade
Lesson Title:
Severe Weather
Lesson Overview:
After completion of the lesson students will be able to:
 Describe characteristics of a thunderstorm
 Describe characteristics of lightning
 Describe characteristics of a tornado
 Describe characteristics fog
 Compare and contrast severe weather
Materials:
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Piece of wood (10 x 12 inches)
Glue gun
Small hand-held fan
Deli dish or cup
Clear plastic plant saucer (7" across). Cut out a hole 2" across in the middle of it
Water (1/2 cup)
Dry ice
Black paper
Gallon jar
Colored warm water
Matches
Gallon size bag of ice
Styrofoam plate
Thumbtack
Pencil with new eraser
Aluminum pie pan
Small piece of wool fabric
Senses worksheet
Action signs
Story paper
Word search activity sheet
Matching worksheet
Gutman/Hodge
Severe Weather
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Engage:
The students will be asked to simulate a thunderstorm by clapping, snapping, and
stomping their feet. The teacher will hold up signs for the students so they know
what to do.
1) Rub your hands together
2) Snap your fingers
3) Slap your hands on your legs
4) Clap your hands
5) Stomp your feet
After completing the thunderstorm activity we will ask the following questions:
-What does a thunderstorm sound like?
-Did this activity sound similar to a thunderstorm?
-What does each action represent?
Explore:
During the explore section we will perform 3 experiments for the students,
during the experiments the students will write down on their weather worksheet
what they see and hear. There will also be a space for any other thoughts, for
example; it sounds scary, etc. The students will be given 4-5 minutes after each
experiment to write down their thoughts. This is to get the students thinking about
how they would describe the severe weather.
Lightning Experiment
1) Push thumbtack through center of aluminum pan from the bottom
2) Push pencil eraser onto thumbtack.
3) Put Styrofoam plate upside-down on a table. Quickly run wool on plate for
a couple of minutes.
4) Pick up aluminum pie pan using the pencil as a handle and place it on top
of the Styrofoam plate
5) Touch the aluminum pan with your finger.
Expected Results:
The result should be a shock to your finger. If you do it with the lights
off then you will see a spark.
Tornado Experiment
Gutman/Hodge
Severe Weather
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1) Pour about half a cup of water in the cup.
2) Using gloves, place a few small pieces of dry ice in to the cup.
3)Quickly place the plant saucer upside down on the top of the two pieces of
vinyl.
4) Turn on the fan and place it in the hole in the saucer to draw the air up.
Expected Results:
The whirling fan at the top creates a spinning "updraft" or vortex. This pulls
air in at the bottom of the container and out at the top of the plant saucer. By
pulling this air up, you can watch a virtual tornado spin.
Fog Experiment
Procedure:
1) Tape the black paper on the back of the jar, so you can't see through the
jar.
2) Fill one third of the jar with colored warm water.
3) Light the match and hold it over the jar opening.
4) After a few seconds, drop the match into the jar and cover the top of the
jar with the bag of ice.
Expected Results:
You should see a little cloud form.
Explain:
First, we will show three short videos that demonstrate severe weather.
Then, severe weather will be explained to the students. When explaining the
severe weather events, student will discuss how severe weather affects life.
Students will also make connections with severe weather: have they
experienced fog, tornadoes, lightning or a thunderstorm.
Tornadoes and lightning video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw9mWzV0Cpk
Lightning Storm video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jolmWYJd-FA
Thunderstorm video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54sOjIO5PIE
After listening to the thunderstorm video, we will ask students, “what do you
think of when you hear this noise?”
Gutman/Hodge
Severe Weather
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What is a tornado?
A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm
to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous
destruction with wind speeds of up to 300 mph. They can destroy large
buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards.
What is lightning?
Lightning is a bright flash of electricity produced by a thunderstorm. All
thunderstorms produce lightning and are very dangerous. If you hear the
sound of thunder, then you are in danger from lightning. Lightning kills and
injures more people each year than hurricanes or tornadoes.
What is a thunderstorm?
A thunderstorm is a storm with lightning and thunder. Its produced by a
cloud, usually producing gusty winds, heavy rain and sometimes hail. The
basic ingredients used to make a thunderstorm are moisture, unstable air
and lift. You need moisture to form clouds and rain. You need unstable air
that is relatively warm and can rise rapidly. Finally, you need lift. This can
form from fronts, sea breezes or mountains.
What is fog?
Fog is a cloud that is in contact with the ground. The same cloud that is not
fog on lower ground may be fog where it contacts higher ground such as
hilltops or mountain ridges. Fog is distinct from mist only in its density. Fog
is defined as cloud which reduces visibility to less than 1 km, whereas mist is
that which reduces visibility to less than 2 km.
Elaborate:
In this section students will be asked to write a story about a storm using
descriptive terms. The descriptive words that the students can use in their story we
be written up on a sheet of paper in the front of the classroom. This will help
stimulate their minds of the descriptions we used during the lesson. The students
must also draw a picture to go along with their story. This will help the teacher
understand if the student has a good understanding of severe weather.
Evaluate:
Students will be given a word search/quiz. The word search will test each
students’ understanding of the terms. Lastly, students will complete a matching
activity. This will ensure that students are able to identify and describe severe
weather.
Gutman/Hodge
Severe Weather
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Bibliography
http://askville.amazon.com/make-sound-rain-thunder-storminside/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=63750621
www.images.google.com
http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather
www.weatherwizkids.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw9mWzV0Cpk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jolmWYJd-FA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54sOjIO5PIE