Lesson Plan

Storming The Earth With Tornadoes and Hurricanes

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

Overview

"Storming The Earth" is a hands on, technology based, inquiry lesson that is designed to help students obtain information about weather events that happen over a short period of time. It will provide information via media about tornadoes and hurricanes.

This lesson was created as part of the 2016 NASA STEM Standards of Practice Project, a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Content Standards

Science (2015) Grade(s): 2

SC15.2.8
Make observations from media to obtain information about Earth’s events that happen over a short period of time (e.g., tornados, volcanic explosions, earthquakes) or over a time period longer than one can observe (e.g., erosion of rocks, melting of glaciers).

Unpacked Content

Vocabulary

Earth events/natural phenomena
Earthquake
Flood
Tornado
Volcanic explosions
Glaciers
Erosion
Landslides
Weathering

Knowledge

Students know:

Earth events and the results of those events may occur slowly or rapidly.
Some events are much longer than can be observed.

Skills

Students are able to:

Make observations and obtain information from multiple sources to provide evidence about Earth events.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Eart's events may change the Earth slowly or rapidly.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Crosscutting Concepts

Stability and Change

Interdisciplinary Connections

Learning Objectives

Primary Learning Objectives

Students will be able to distinguish between tornadoes and hurricanes based on observations and information obtained from media.

Students will be able to identify patterns and components of tornado and hurricane formation.

Procedures/Activities

Use a KWL chart to assess student's knowledge of tornadoes and hurricane prior to starting lesson.

In order to engage students show the video http://scijinks.jpl.nasa.gov/tornado-samaras/ and have students create and discuss a class essential question. An example question is "How can you use what you learn from observing tornadoes and hurricanes to create something to help keep people safe?" or "How do tornadoes and hurricanes affect the earth and people?"

After discussion, students will participate in learning stations.

Students will rotate to 20 minutes learning stations designed for 3-4 students to explore media and text resources that will enhance their understanding of tornado and hurricanes. Students will record their learning on a concept map as they rotate.

These learning stations will include an brain storming station using a graphic organizer, two interactive simulator games on an electronic device, content literacy station and sequencing card station.

The content literacy station will include books for students to read and reference about tornadoes and hurricanes.

The sequencing station includes cards that show the progression of each type storm. Students will identify characteristics for each stage, discuss these characteristics and put cards in correct order.

Example:

http://www.readingrockets.org/content/pdfs/conceptmap1.pdf

Use a KWL chart to assess student's knowledge of tornadoes and hurricane prior to starting lesson.

After discussion, students will participate in learning stations.

The content literacy station will include books for students to read and reference about tornadoes and hurricanes.

Example:

http://www.readingrockets.org/content/pdfs/conceptmap1.pdf

Learning Activity (Before)

Learning Activity (During)

Learning Activity (After)

Assessment Strategies

Students will demonstrate knowledge of tornado and hurricane formation and specific behaviors by completing an overlapping Venn Diagram. It will serve as an individualized assessment to provide evidence of the student's ability to recognize similarities and differences of both hurricanes and tornadoes.

http://www.studenthandouts.com/Assortment-01/Graphic-Organizers/Blank-Venn-Diagrams-Instructions.html

Acceleration and Intervention