Barbara Davis

Tornadoes-Twisted Wind
Grades (s)
Subject (s)
Length of Lesson
Lesson
Overview/Rationale

Curriculum
Framework/Standard

Learning Objectives

Technology Uses

Materials

Procedures

Third Grade
Physical Science-Force and Movement
Three class periods
To provide the students with an introduction to the understanding of
motion and properties of matter. The study of motion asks for students
to compare and contrast motion in terms of direction and speed of an
object. Using force as a push or a pull now builds toward the idea that
when an object does not move in response to a force, it is because
another force is acting on it. The force of gravity as the force that pulls
objects towards the Earth is the foundation of this learning.
Discipline Two-Physical Science
Force and Motion (FM) Position (2) Gravity (2) Force (8) Speed (3) Energy
(EN) Forms of Energy (2) Light Properties (2) Sound (2) Energy and
Temperature (3) Electrical Circuits (2) Properties of Matter (PM) Physical
Properties (8) States of Matter (3) Magnets (4) Material Composition (1)
Conductive and Reflective Properties (3) Changes in Matter (CM) Changes
in State (1)

Student will observed and describe how a tornado is formed:

Explain that a tornado is a vortex.
Estimate the spiral motion of fluid that sucks everything near it
towards its center.
Apply the objectives learned
measure their theories after experiment is preformed
Analyze the results
Smart board to show the movie Tornado Alley, computer to access
internet web-site student will search for, research materials, articles,
and pictures of tornadoes and the damage they can cause.
Plastic bottles- 32 to 64 ounces (for best results)
Tornado twist cap covers, to connect two bottle together
Water
Salt
Teaspoon
Liquid detergent
Food coloring
Small items to place in bottle to show the strength of the current
from the tornado
Read the book, Tornado in a Bottle. Review with students any
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information that they know about tornados and bad storms. Explain that
a tornado is a vortex-a spiral motion of fluid but in the case of a
tornado the fluid is air. Tell the student they are going to make a
tornado in a bottle. Divide students in groups with the above materials.
Have the students:
Fill one bottle with water leaving about two to three inches at
the top.
Add the salt,
Cover bottle with a cap until salt dissolves,
Add a drop of liquid detergent
Add food coloring,
To demonstrate the damage a tornado can cause have student place the
small items into the empty bottle, then connect the two bottles together
with the tornado bottle connector, flip the bottle with the ingredients
onto the bottle with the small items, and observe what happens.
To make sure students understand the relationship between the model
tornado they have made and a real tornado, ask what is the water in the
bottle. They should know that the water represents the swirling motions
in the air that tornado create.
Assessment

Have students use what they learned from research and the project to
write a short summary of a real tornado, including what is the cause
and what is the effect.

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TORANDO-TWISTED WIND RUBIC

Student Name

Articles

Poster
Board size
collage

Excellent
30 points
Two (2) articles related to
tornadoes using internet
web-site with citing
included.
30 points
Collage must contain
pictures of tornado, the
damage afterwards, two

Great
20 points
Two (2) articles
related to tornadoes
from books or other
sources
20 points
Collage must
contain pictures of
tornados, and
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Good
10 points
One (1) article
related to
tornadoes with a
source
10 points
Collage must
contain pictures of
tornados, and

Score

Barbara Davis

stories from victims of a

tornado. Board must be
completely filled.

Summary
of Project

Use of
Technology

20 Points
Correct description;
complete and correct
account of causes and
effects. Have plan for
what to do and where to
go in case a tornado
touches down.
20 Points
Use of web-site, and
search engines for
articles, pictures,
research, and witness
account.

damage afterwards.
One story from a
victim of a tornado.
Board must be fully
filled.
15 Points
Correct description;
incomplete account
of cause and effect.
Would know what
to do and where to
go in case a tornado
touches down.
20 Points
Use of web-site, and
search engines for
articles, pictures,
research and witness
account.

TOTAL
SCORE

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damage
afterwards. Board
must be 3/4 filled.

10 Point
Not enough
description or
cause and effect;
incomplete but
made an effort. No
plan for what to
do or where to go
20 Points
Use of web-site,
and search engines
for articles,
pictures, research
and witness
account.