Tornados: Nature s Phenomena

1. Tornados: Nature�s Phenomena Lesson Plan by Juan Garcia and Candice Markham

2. Constructivism Theory Learning is a product of one�s environment. Constructivism based teaching stresses incorporated curriculum and having educators use resources in such a way that students become dynamically occupied. Constructivism is a doctrine of learning that takes place in perspective and that students construct much of what they learn as a function of their knowledge of situations. Learners are said to create their own learning from their experiences.

3. Objectives Students will learn about storms and how tornadoes develop from the storms and what effects they have on the community. Students will learn safety procedures in the event a tornado would hit our school. Students will construct a model of a tornado and describe its characteristics.

4. Learning Environment and Student Profile The class consists of twenty 5th grade students. They are all at risk students who come from low income families. The classroom has nineteen student computers, one teacher computer, smart board, projector, two printers, two sinks and science lab equipment needed for various projects.

5. Texas Standards Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses scientific methods during laboratory and outdoor investigations. The student is expected to: -Analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations from direct (observable) and indirect (inferred) evidence. Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions. The student is expected to: -Draw or develop a model that represents how something works or looks that cannot be seen such as how a soda dispensing machine works. Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among the Sun, Earth, and Moon system. The student is expected to: -Differentiate between weather and climate.

6. Lesson Activities- Opening Hook Students will view a short video clip from the movie twister showing them the destruction caused by a Tornado. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNcC5sNHUaE The teacher will then asked the students some questions to activate the students prior knowledge about tornadoes. Have any students been in a tornado before? Does anyone know how tornadoes are formed? Have they watched the news lately? A guest speaker will talk to the students via the internet about their experiences in a tornado and the effects a tornado had on their hometown. The speaker will talk about safety procedures students follow in their hometown in case of a tornado. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbVp6HSWR8

7. Lesson Activities- Science of Learning The teacher will then teach the students how tornadoes are formed. Tornadoes are formed when a high pressure and low pressure air collide. Tornadoes usually form when a thunderstorm or super cell occurs. The next lesson activity the students will practice a mock tornado drill where the students have to duck and hide under tables and desk in case a tornado ever hit the Rio Grande Valley. Student will formulate opinions on their experience going through the mock tornado drill. The teacher will instruct the students the procedures to follow that the guest speaker talked about in case of a tornado. The teacher will tell the students the signal the students will hear when they have to react and duck and hide for cover. After completing the mock tornado alarm the students will be asked questions. What they felt when they heard the alarm? Why would they need to hide under a table or desk?

8. Learning Activities- Closing Ceremonies Students will be group in fours and have to create their own tornado. The experiment shows or simulates the spiraling behavior of the tail of a tornado. The model they create will show some characteristics of the tornado on a smaller scale. The students will try and create different models of the tornado by changing the size of the holes they use. The students will be given the procedure on how to build their model of a tornado. The teacher will walk around the room and monitor the students as they create their model. After the students have created the model the teacher will ask students questions. How does the model relate to a real tornado? Do the sizes of the holes in the tape make the tornado bigger or smaller, does it matter? What would happen to our hometown if a tornado would hit it? What cause the vortex to happen? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRCOwS2Lyzs

9. Assessments The students will be assessed by the teacher after each lesson by the question provided after each lesson. The teacher will be constantly checking for understanding throughout the lessons. A 5-question pop quiz will be given at the end of the class.

10. Materials Needed Twister video, computer, internet, smart board, projector, and classroom with tables Tornado in a bottle model material: 2 empty 2-liter bottle, 1 roll of duct tape, 1 pen per student, water, scissors, paper towels Resources: Procedures on how to create the Tornado in a bottle: http://www.haverford.edu/educ/knight-booklet/tornado.htm