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Tornado Warning!

Kateri Spencer EDU 300

Science Lesson Plans Incorporating a Gizmo
Ohio State Standards
Grade 3
Licensure Area: Early Childhood Education and Special Intervention
Date: May 7, 2016
Topic and Social Studies Standard: Tornadoes: (Geography) Daily life is influenced by the
agriculture, industry and natural resources in different communities.
1. Objectives:
 The students will be able to understand the intense speeds of a tornado
according to Fujita scale and through observation of the tornado box.
 The students will understand the damage tornados have on buildings.
 The students will know some warning signs of a tornado.
2. Context Standard:
Science Standard ESS Grade 2: The Atmosphere is made up of air. Air has
properties that can be observed and measured. The transfer of energy in the
atmosphere causes air movement, which is felt as wind. Wind speed and
direction can be measured.
3. Motivation
Students will have a class discussion about what they may already know about
tornados. Questions will be like the following: “How fast are tornadoes?” “What
do tornadoes destroy?” “What would land look like after a tornado hit”. Then
the students will be shown before and after pictures of tornado damage on
communities.
4. Instructional Materials
 Display of Fujita Scale
 List of tornado warning signs
 Pictures of Tornado Damage
 Tornado Box
 Paper
 Pencils
5. Procedure
 Students will be started in a discussion about what they know about tornados,
and make predictions about the damage and change that tornadoes cause.
 The students will be shown before and after pictures of tornado damage on a
community.
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 The students will be shown the Fujita Scale.

 The teacher will explain the scale and the corresponding damage that
accompanies wind speed.
 The teacher will discuss tornado warning signs with the students.
 In conclusion of the lesson, the teacher will show the students the tornado box
in action.
 After the demonstration, the students will discuss the damage of tornados in
response to what they saw in the tornado box.
 The students will be given a short quiz on tornado’s speed, damage capability,
and warning signs.
6. Classroom Discussion
The students will speak with one another and the teacher about their previous
knowledge of tornados. At the end of the lesson, the students will talk about
what they learned.
7. Academic Vocabulary
 Wind speed, Fujita scale, damage, tornado
8. Assessment
The students will be expected to understand the wind speeds, and damage
capabilities of a tornado, and possible warning signs of a tornado. They will be
assessed by a three question quiz and teacher observation of classroom
discussion.
Value Added
 The warning signs of a tornado, and the Fujita scale can be found in the student
resources section.
 The teacher resource section provides the quiz and the tornado box gizmo
document. Provided below is the link for the tornado damage pictures:
o http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/oklahoma-tornado-before-and-after-
photos/10/
 Universal Design Model:
o Students with visual problems may be placed in the front of the class so
they can see the displays.
o Students with hearing loss are permitted to touch display of tornado box
to feel the vibrations of the movement.
o An English Language Learner can be placed with a peer partner to help
with the student’s ability to participate in the discussion.