Tornadoes can happen anytime, anyplace under the right conditions, but the United States is more prone to tornadoes than anywhere else in the world. There is even an area of the United States called 'tornado alley' In this lesson, you will have an opportunity to discover where and how to access information about tornadoes, produce a map of where they occur, study images of tornadoes from ground and space, communicate a theory about how they form, determine how the frequency and intensity of tornadoes has changed over time, and become familiar with what to do before, during and after a tornado strike.
| Relevant Disciplines: | Earth & Space Science Geography Physical Science |
| Grade Level: | 5-12 |
| Adaptable to Other Grades: | Yes |
| Time Required (class periods): | 2-3 |
| Prerequisites: | None |
| Additional Resources Available: | Yes |
Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this lesson:
5-ESS2-1
3-5-ETS1-1
MS-ESS2-5
MS-ESS2-6
MS-ESS3-2
MS-ETS1-1
HS-ESS3-1
HS-ETS1-2
| Lesson Resources for What is a Tornado? | |
| File Type/Link | Description |
| Data-csv | Comma-delimited text file containing NOAA's National Climatic Data Center Storm Events tornado data, 25.9KB |
| Play Video-mp4 | GOES infrared imagery of Moore, OK tornado 20 May 2013, 640x480, 0:19, 6.2MB |
| Download Video-mp4 | GOES infrared imagery of Moore, OK tornado 20 May 2013, 640x480, 0:19, 6.2MB |
| Video-mp4 | Satellite visible imagery of Moore, OK tornado 20 May 2013, 1920x1080, 0:24, 23.6MB |
| Download Video-mp4 | Satellite visible imagery of Moore, OK tornado 20 May 2013, 1920x1080, 0:24, 23.6MB |