Extreme Weather Explorers!

Science Grades 5th Grade 4:26 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn about different types of severe weather and how they impact Earth's systems. Discover how tornadoes, blizzards, hurricanes, floods, and droughts affect the world around us!

Video Resource

Severe Weather: Crash Course Kids #28.2

Crash Course Kids

Duration: 4:26
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Severe weather is extreme weather that puts people, animals, or buildings at risk.
  • Different types of severe weather include tornadoes, blizzards, hurricanes, floods, and droughts.
  • Severe weather impacts the geosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define severe weather and differentiate it from regular weather.
  • Students will be able to identify and describe at least three different types of severe weather.
  • Students will be able to explain how severe weather impacts the geosphere and biosphere.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about weather. Then, introduce the concept of 'severe weather' and explain that it's more extreme than regular weather. Show the Crash Course Kids video: 'Severe Weather: Crash Course Kids #28.2'.
  • Discussion (10 mins)
    After watching the video, lead a class discussion about the different types of severe weather discussed. Ask students to share examples of severe weather they have experienced or seen on TV. Review the definitions of each type of severe weather (tornadoes, blizzards, hurricanes, floods, droughts).
  • Activity: Severe Weather Impact Chart (20 mins)
    Divide students into small groups. Give each group a large piece of paper and have them create a chart with the following columns: Type of Severe Weather, Impact on Geosphere, Impact on Biosphere, Impact on Hydrosphere. Students will fill in the chart with examples of how each type of severe weather impacts each sphere, using information from the video and the discussion. Provide examples to help them get started. For example: Type of Severe Weather: Drought. Impact on Biosphere: Plants die due to lack of water.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the key concepts of the lesson. Ask students to share one thing they learned about severe weather. Briefly discuss how scientists study and predict severe weather.

Interactive Exercises

  • Severe Weather Role-Play
    Divide the class into five groups, and assign each group one type of severe weather (tornado, blizzard, hurricane, flood, or drought). Each group prepares a short skit or presentation explaining their assigned weather phenomenon and its impact on the environment and community.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some differences between regular weather and severe weather?
  • How can severe weather be dangerous to people, animals, and the environment?
  • Have you ever experienced any type of severe weather? What was it like?

Skills Developed

  • Critical thinking
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Scientific reasoning

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which of these is NOT a type of severe weather?

Correct Answer: Sunny Day

Question 2:

What is a fast-spinning column of air that touches the ground?

Correct Answer: Tornado

Question 3:

Which type of severe weather has lots of snow and cold temperatures?

Correct Answer: Blizzard

Question 4:

Hurricanes start over ______.

Correct Answer: Warm Ocean Waters

Question 5:

What happens when there is not enough rain for a long time?

Correct Answer: Drought

Question 6:

Which of these is part of the biosphere?

Correct Answer: Plants

Question 7:

Which of these is part of the geosphere?

Correct Answer: Mountains

Question 8:

Heavy rains can cause ______ when water overflows rivers and lakes.

Correct Answer: Floods

Question 9:

Severe weather can impact the biosphere by...

Correct Answer: Killing plants and animals

Question 10:

The atmosphere includes what?

Correct Answer: Air

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

__________ is any dangerous act of nature that puts people, animals, or buildings at risk.

Correct Answer: Severe weather

Question 2:

A _________ is a storm with high winds and heavy rain that starts over warm ocean waters.

Correct Answer: hurricane

Question 3:

A __________ happens when too much rain forces streams, rivers, and lakes to overflow.

Correct Answer: flood

Question 4:

A _________ is when an area doesn't receive enough rainfall.

Correct Answer: drought

Question 5:

The condition of the air, or __________, is called weather.

Correct Answer: atmosphere

Question 6:

A fast-spinning column of air that stretches from a cloud to the Earth's surface is a __________.

Correct Answer: tornado

Question 7:

When flood waters wear down rocky formations like mountains over time, this is an example of the impact on the __________.

Correct Answer: geosphere

Question 8:

The sphere of the earth that includes all living things is called the __________.

Correct Answer: biosphere

Question 9:

Blizzards have blowing or falling __________, high winds, and cold temperatures.

Correct Answer: snow

Question 10:

Really strong thunderstorms can bring __________ and high winds that can damage trees.

Correct Answer: lightning

Educational Standards

5-ESS2-1:Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact. [Clarification Statement: Examples could include the influence of the ocean on ecosystems, landform shape, and climate; the influence of the atmosphere on landforms and ecosystems through weather and climate; and the influence of mountain ranges on winds and clouds in the atmosphere. The geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere are each a system.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to the interactions of two systems at a time.]

Teaching Materials

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