Weather activities with Night of the Twisters

While reading the novel Night of the Twisters, students will complete activities related to weather concepts described in the story. Students will complete activities which explore the key concepts of cloud formation, air pressure, and local weather patterns.

A lesson plan for grade 5 Science

By Melissa Bancroft

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Related pages

• Weathering the water cycle: Condensation: This lesson introduces students to condensation as one phase of the water cycle. Through the use of the four lessons in this series students will learn that the water cycle is a continuous cycle. The other lessons in this series include lessons on evaporation and precipitation as well as a conclusion.
• Weathering the water cycle: Evaporation: Students will learn that evaporation is one of the three stages of the water cycle. The other lessons in this series include lessons on condensation and precipitation as well as a conclusion.
• Twisters in a jar: The class will discuss the motion, causes and effects of a tornado. The student will also be able to name the safety steps one should take when a tornado occurs.

Related topics

• Learn more about barometers, cirrus, climate, clouds, cumulus, environmental science, hands-on, labs, meteorology, science, stratus, and weather.

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• identify the characteristics of cumulus, stratus, and cirrus clouds. They will also identify the type of weather that each type of cloud indicates. They will display this information on a cloud chart.
• create a simple barometer to measure air pressure and predict fair and stormy weather.
• measure and graph daily temperatures and rainfall for one month.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

1 month

Materials/resources

• Student copies of the novel Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman
• Cotton balls
• Blue construction paper
• Quart-size Mason jars (one for each student is preferable, but students may share if necessary)
• Balloons
• Plastic straws
• Toothpicks
• 4″ x 6″ index cards
• Outdoor rain gauge
• Outdoor thermometer
• Graph paper

Technology resources

A computer with Internet access would be nice for extending the activities or researching related topics, but it is not a necessity.

Pre-activities

• Students will read the novel Night of the Twisters (as these activities will integrate science with reading, the science activities and novel reading will run concurrently).
• Students will relate and discuss prior experience with weather phenomena.

Activities

Activity 1

Cloud Depictions

Students will create depictions of cumulus, cirrus, and stratus clouds. They will use cotton balls to make each type of cloud and glue the clouds onto a sheet of blue construction paper. Students will label each type of cloud, and list the weather that each type of cloud indicates.

Activity 2

Making a Barometer

Students will create a simple barometer with a Mason jar.

1. Cut the balloon just above where the neck ends. Stretch the balloon tightly over the lid of the jar.
2. Lay the straw on top of the balloon so that about two-thirds of the straw sticks out beyond the edge of the jar. Attach the straw to the balloon with tape.
3. Tape a toothpick to the end of the straw to serve as a “pointer.”
4. Turn the index card vertically; write “HIGHER” at the top and “LOWER” at the bottom. Tape the card to the wall beside the jar.
5. As air pressure increases, the straw will point up. As pressure decreases, the straw will point down. Students should monitor their barometers each day and predict which type of weather the air pressure indicates (fair or stormy). Higher pressure typically indicates fair weather, while low pressure typically indicates stormy or inclement weather.

Activity 3

Measuring and Graphing Daily Temperatures

Students will measure daily morning (8:00 am) and afternoon (1:00 pm) temperatures, and graph them on either a double bar graph or double line graph.

Activity 4

Measuring and Graphing Daily Rainfall

Students will measure and graph rainfall each day. Students may create a bar graph, line graph, or pictograph to display this information.

Assessment

Teacher will assess each activity according to the following criteria:

• Activity 1:

The cloud depictions must:

• have correct representions cumulus, cirrus, and stratus clouds, which are neatly labeled.
• include correct information on the type of weather that each cloud indicates (cumulus clouds which do not grow indicate a fine, sunny day; however, cumulus clouds that grow and begin to fill the sky may indicate rain; cirrus clouds often indicate cool, dry weather when high in the sky; stratus clouds indicate wet or possibly stormy weather).
• Activity 2:
• Student-made barometers must be able to show air pressure changes as pressure rises and falls.
• Activity 3:
• Student temperature graphs must correctly display daily temperature changes for each school day over the course of the month. Either a double bar graph or double line graph must be used to show this information.
• Activity 4:
• Student rainfall graphs must correctly display daily rainfall amounts for each school day over the course of the month. This information must be displayed in either a bar graph, line graph, or pictograph.

Supplemental information

Ruckman, Ivy. Night of the Twisters. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1986.