Fall is the perfect time of the year to study hurricanes.
Students interests are automatically sparked as they hear weather reports that include hurricanes.
To introduce hurricanes, a good starting lesson is:
1. Current forecast – We use our local tv station – WISTV to see if a hurricane is included in the daily weather forecasts
2. From the current forecasts, hurricanes are predicted with categories – Next teach students about the Scales for Identifying hurricanes – try this link from the National Weather Service
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.shtml
3. Discuss the Damage Hurricanes can Cause – A great similation is found here: http://weather.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=weather&cdn=education&tm=23&gps=263_229_796_277&f=00&tt=13&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.npr.org/news/specials/hurricane/ap/
4. Hurricane Preparidness
5. Naming Hurricanes – http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/basics/naming.shtml
6. Teach tracking a hurricane – This lesson is good with lots of extra links – http://archive.ncsa.illinois.edu/Cyberia/DVE/FusionDVE/html/hurricane_lesson_plan.html