Lesson 4

Objectives: The students will reread story, review vocabulary, construct a word search puzzle, write an acrostic poem and visit a weather web site for research.

Activity: 
a)  Using the total physical response (TPR), the students will identify the vocabulary words.

Example: The teacher  and/or student will pantomime or show an illustration of each vocabulary word and select individual students to come to board and point to the correct word. This is repeated several times.

b) Students will reread story at listening station and practice a teacher selected page for oral fluency with a partner.

c) Students will publish acrostic poems using desktop publishing.

d) Complete word search puzzles at Discovery Kids click on Puzzlemaker

 e) Visit local weather web site WSVN to learn about a local meteorologist and follow the latest weather bulletins; click on Weather. "Ask Earl" questions about the weather at Yahooligans- Ask Earl. Sample questions: 

Q: What is a tornado?

A: A tornado is defined as a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide and 50 miles long. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide.

Q. Are there different kinds of tornadoes?

A: Some tornadoes may form during the early stages of rapidly developing thunderstorms. They spin up when an storm's updraft picks up a low-level spinning vortex and tilts up upward. It then stretches it making it spin faster. These types of tornadoes are most common along the front range of the Rocky Mountains, in the Plains and the Western states. They are called "landspouts" because they look and form much like waterspouts. See the next question for more about waterspouts.

*Activities b, c, d, e  should be done in small groups with teacher facilitating simultaneously.

Evaluation: Student will be assessed on completed word search puzzle and published acrostic poem. Copies of word search puzzle and acrostic poem can be placed in unit portfolio.

Extension Activity: Tornado Safety Tips

• Students will plan and publish a Tornado Safety Tips Pamphlet
• Visit USA Today Weather
• Click on Tornado Safety
• Collect information on tornado safety tips
• What to do before a tornado:  Planning what you would do in the event a tornado watch or warning is issued. Purchase a weather radio Designate a tornado shelter and route to it
• What to do during a tornado at home: Go at once to the basement, storm cellar, or the lowest level of the building. If there is no basement, go to an inner hallway or a smaller inner room without windows, such as a bathroom or closet. Get away from the windows. Go to the center of the room. Stay away from corners because they tend to attract debris. Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it. Use arms to protect head and neck. If in a mobile home, get out and find shelter elsewhere
• What to do during a tornado when away from home: If at work or school: Go to the basement or to an inside hallway at the lowest level. Avoid places with wide-span roofs such as auditoriums, cafeterias, large hallways, or shopping malls. Get under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table or desk and hold on to it. Use arms to protect head and neck.

  If outdoors: If possible, get inside a building. If shelter is not available or there is no time to get indoors, lie in a ditch or low-lying area or crouch near a strong building. Be aware of the potential for flooding. Use arms to protect head and neck.

  If in a car: Never try to out drive a tornado in a car or truck. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and can lift up a car or truck and toss it through the air. Get out of the car immediately and take shelter in a nearby building. If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or low-lying area away from the vehicle. Be aware of the potential for flooding.

• What do do after a tornado: Listen to local officials, and emergency management personnel. Stay away from downed power lines and other harmful debris. Remain calm, especially around children. Check on the elderly and your pets. Use a flashlight and not candles to inspect damage. Check for any gas leaks and turn the valves off if there's a leak Turn off electricity if there are signs of sparks. Watch for any loose debris that could fall. Take pictures of your damaged property for insurance claims.
• Use information to create a three-column Tornado Tips Pamphlet Template using desktop publishing
• Break students into groups, with a student each to collect data, type it, insert graphics and art, design layout, proofread, edit and publish
• Have students change font, style, size and color to enhance pamphlet
• Publish and share with classmates
• Pamphlet can also be posted on school web site

Homework: Share Tornado Tips Pamphlet with parents, then locate one article on weather online or in local newspaper and write the who, what, why, where and when of it.

                         Total time allotment approx:  120 min.