Hurricanes are one of nature’s most powerful forces, causing severe land destruction and temporary population migrations.  Want to explore these mega weather machines with your students? Share facts about the weather patterns needed to create these massive storms, explore weather prediction models and discuss the long-term effects on individuals in the path of a storm.

• Animated guide: Hurricanes - The BBC offers animated slides that lead students through the development of a hurricane. (Tool, 6-8)
• Create a Local Weather Map - Students draw pictures that symbolize different types of weather and then make their own local weather map.  (Activity, 1-2)
• Exploring Cause and Effect Using Expository Texts About Natural Disasters -Students explore the nature and structure of expository texts that focus on cause and effect. (Lesson Plan, 3-5)
• Extreme Weather on Earth - Students investigate extreme weather such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and blizzards.  (Activity, 6-8)
• Hurricanes - In this podcast, students learn about the recent upswing in hurricanes. (Audio, 6-12)
• Hurricanes 1: The Science of Hurricanes - Introduce students to the science of hurricanes and highlight how forces change the speed and direction of motion. (Lesson Plan, 3-5)
• Hurricanes 2: Tracking Hurricanes - Examine the role of technology in identifying and tracking hurricanes. (Lesson Plan, 3-5)
• Life on the Water - Based on Keep the Lighthouse Burning, Abbie, this set of activities helps children and adults explore lighthouses and maritime history together. (Activity, K-4)
• Properties of Air - This lesson demonstrates that air takes up space, and puts pressure, or pushes, on everything around it.  (Lesson Plan, 3-5)
• The tropical storm that became Katrina formed over the Bahamas in 2005. - As a class, students explore weather-related and other natural disasters that their geographical area is prone to and review emergency preparedness and procedures. (Calendar Event, K-12)
• USA Today's Weather Basics  - USA Today offers resources to help students understand weather, climate and other earth science topics. (Tool, 6-8)
• Weather Wonders of the Day:           
  • Why Do Different States Have Different Weather?
  • Where Is Tornado Alley?
  • Wonder of the Day #334: What Is a Hurricane?
  • Wonder of the Day #307: How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

For more information on natural disasters, explore: Earthquakes & Tsunamis and Volcanic Explosion.

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