Objectives: Students will read silently with audio cassette 1/2 of the story using  a bookmark or index card as a tracker or guide, write an acrostic poem, and create a word search puzzle of the vocabulary words from a Web site for kids. Identify story elements through story frame.

 Activity: 
a) After a quick review and oral practice of the vocabulary words,  a purpose for reading will set and story will begin.

b) After reading, students will retell the story orally and begin story frame:
                                Title:
                                Author:
                                Character:
                                Setting:
                                Beginning:
                                Middle:
                                End:
                                Opinion:

  c)  Students will go on-line to Discovery Kids and click on Puzzlemaker to create a word search puzzle using  tornado vocabulary words: vortex, funnel, wind sheer, thunderstorm, air pressure, Tornado Alley, updraft, waterspout, wind speed, dryline, hail, cold front, rotation, anvil, precipitation, wall cloud, rain

                     d) Using the word T-O-R-N-A-D-O,  the students will begin draft of the acrostic poem using desktop publishing.  

*Note: activities b, c, d  can done in small groups with the teacher facilitating simultaneously.

Tornado Acrostic Poem

Terrible 

Opaque

Repulsive

Never-ending

Appalling 

Dreadful

Ozone
 

Publish a poem at Giggle Poetry

Evaluation: Student will write draft of acrostic poem using desktop publishing and retell story using proper sequence. 

Extension Activity:

• Students will build their own tornado
• Visit Web Weather
• Click on Tornadoes
• Students can make either tornado according to level
•  Activity #1: Make a Tornado
• Activity #2: Twister in a Jar
• Demonstrate tornado to class

Homework: Students will use tornado vocabulary words and write a shape poem about a tornado. Print out a picture of a tornado, outline it and make copies for students to take home. Students can also draw tornado free hand and write poem along their picture.

               Time allotment approx: 90 min.