Forecasting and Preparing for Weather

Severe weather occurs frequently in and around the Midwest. Watching the weather forecasts and having materials necessary for severe weather help to predict and prepare for these events.

What can you do to prepare for severe weather? 

• How do you know what the weather is going to be like?
• What materials do you need when there is severe weather? 
• What causes the weather to become severe?

Students could:

• Read “Weather” by Kristin Baird Rattini and discuss the specific pages that deal with severe weather. Ask students what causes specific types of weather and how severe weather is different. 
• Do this science experiment to show why thunderstorms occur: Fill a rectangular pan with cold water. Place frozen blue ice cubes (premade with blue colored water) in one end to represent cold air and yellow food coloring in the other end. Discuss how when the two colors meet they cause an unstable air which leads to thunderstorms.  Discuss what happens during unstable air times and discuss thunder and lightning and how changes in air temperature and energy affect them. 
• Introduce the term ”meteorologist” and read “The Kids' Book of Weather Forecasting”  by Mark Breen and Kathleen Friestad or another book about weather forecasting. Make a chart with a picture of “Mindy the Meteorologist” to list items learned from the story.  Discuss how forecasting can help people determine what they need to wear and what precautions they may need to take. 
• Look at the Ready website and discuss items that should be included in a severe weather emergency kit.  Have students make a list of items and challenge students to go home and put together a kit.  Have them take a picture or video to share with the class. 

• Wonderopolis | How do Tornadoes Form?: Article, videos, and activities exploring how tornados form. 
• Wonderopolis: How do forecasters predict the weather?: Article, video, and activities for predicting weather.
• Ready.gov: A list of items to get together to prepare for severe weather.
• PBS LearnngMedia | Bringing the Universe to America's Classrooms: Earth and Space Science: Severe Weather Gallery: Observe severe weather phenomena in this image gallery. Use this resource to provide opportunities for students to observe various severe weather conditions and compare factors across the conditions.