Weather_Science_Lesson_Plan

Name: ___Colleen Healey___

Lesson Plan Title/Topic: ___Tornadoes! In a Bottle___ Grade: _3rd__ || How are tornadoes formed? || || Students will observe weather patterns through a simulated tornado apparatus. || || Students will create a working apparatus that simulates a tornado. Students will record in their science notebooks what they did, their observations, and reasons to what they observed. (Rubric attached.) || || ** ESS1 (3-4) –5 ** ** 5a ** observing, recording, comparing, and analyzing weather data to describe weather changes or weather patterns. || || I have prepared to engage the students by asking for prior knowledge. The students will work in groups when manipulating the arrangement. The small groups will include high, medium, and low level ability types. The procedure will be spoken orally and each student will have a copy of them written out. Also, since the students can be distracted with objects on their desk I will collect the arrangements after they have finished recording all observations. To call the class to attention I will ring the class bell. ||  To open I will review the science content learned in the previous lesson. I will ask students to recall how tornadoes are formed. I will also ask where they typically occur in the United States. I will show the students a map of the United States that displays “Tornado Alley.” I will explain that today we will be creating our own tornado using water and soda bottles. Break students into groups of three to four students. I will read the procedure to the students for making the tornado in the bottles. I will then ask two students from each group to collect the materials from the materials table and bring them to their group. Students will also receive the procedure written out for them to follow. · Fill one of the bottles two-thirds full of water · Place the metal washer over the opening of the bottle · Turn the second bottle upside down and place it on the washer. · Use the duct tape to fasten the two containers and the metal washer together. Make sure to tape tightly to make sure that no water will leak out when you turn the bottle over. · Turn the tornado maker, so that the bottle with the water is on top. Swirl the bottle in a circular motion. Ask students to write in their science notebooks what happened. (A tornado will form in the top bottle as the water rushes into the bottom bottle.) ** CLOSURE ****// about 15minutes //** I will ask students to come together to share what happened when they swirled the bottle in a circular motion. (A tornado happened.)
 * ** Essential **
 * Question(s) **
 * ** Objectives **
 * ** Assessment **
 * ** Standards **
 * Students demonstrate an **
 * understanding of processes **
 * and change over time within **
 * earth systems by … **
 * ** Opportunities to Learn **
 * ** Materials ** || * 2 2-liter clear plastic pop bottles (empty and clean)
 * Water
 * Measuring cup
 * 1-inch metal washer
 * duct tape that will connect the 2 2-liter bottles together
 * scissors ||
 * ** Instructional Procedures ** |||| ||
 * // What will you be doing? // || // What will the students be doing? // ||
 * ** OPENING ****// about 10 minutes //**
 * ENGAGEMENT ** **// about 30 minutes //**

I will ask students why they think that happened.

Reiterate the content learned from the previous lesson that a tornado is whirling wind that moves across the ground in a narrow path. A tornado is a sort of a runaway convection cell. A convection cell is a circular pattern of air rising, air sinking and wind. In that sense the swirling motion you give the bottle forms a vortex like the whirling wind in a real tornado. || Students will raise their hands quietly and wait to be called on to answer questions.

Students will be creating the apparatus for creating a tornado. Students will create a tornado inside the bottles by swirling the bottles in a circular motion. Students will write in their science journals what they did and report their observations. Students will share their observations with their group.

Students will report out to their classmates what their group observed. ||

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