Wind Maker

Name________________________________

Date__________________________________

Directions: Gather the following materials and follow the steps below to illustrate how wind occurs.

What You Need:

·                   3-in. (8-cm) paper circle cut into a spiral.

·                   10-in. (25-cm) piece of thread.

·                   Heat source (light bulb).

What You Do:

1. Tie the thread to the center of the paper spiral.

2. Hold the spiral by the thread and place it over the heat source. What happens?

3.    Move the spiral away from the heat source. What happens?

What You Discovered:

·                  What happens when the air around the heat source is heated?

·                  What effect does that have on the air above?

·                   How does the activity explain the creation of winds? (Remember, when air is warmed, its molecules are excited and move farther apart.)

Activity Sheet 1: Tornadoes/3-5/Lesson Plan 1 /How Do Tornadoes Form? American Red Cross Masters of Disaster

© 2000 by The American National Red Cross/Duplication allowed for classroom use only.

Storm Cloud

Name________________________________

Date__________________________________

Directions: Gather the following materials and follow the steps below to illustrate how thunderstorm clouds form.

What You Need:

·                   Clear, plastic sweater box or similar container (8 in. x 8 in. x 12 in.).

·                   Water (room temperature).

·                   Heated milk (about 78° C or 1400 F measured on a candy thermometer).

·                   Clean baby food jar.

·                   Plastic wrap.

·                   Rubber band.

·                   Sharp object, such as the end of a paper clip.

What You Do:

1.     Fill the clear plastic box about ₄ full of water.

2.     Fill the baby food jar to the top with heated milk and stretch a single layer of plastic wrap over it tightly.

3.    Carefully place the baby food jar into one end of the filled plastic

container and allow it to sit for a minute until the water settles.
4.          Using a sharp object, puncture several holes in the top of the plastic

wrap. Observe from the sides and top of the plastic container. 5.       Illustrate/describe what happens immediately.

6.    Illustrate/describe what happens next.

Activity Sheet 2: Tornadoes/3-5/Lesson Plan 1 /How Do Tornadoes Form? American Red Cross Masters of Disaster

GO 2000 by The American National Red Cross/Duplication allowed for classroom use only.

51-1 MRS ISVII, I"'

Activity Sheet 2: Tornadoes/3-5/Lesson Plan 1 /How Do Tornadoes Form? American Red Cross Masters of Disaster © 2000 by The American National Red Cross/Duplication allowed for classroom use only.

Storm Cloud

page 2

7.    Illustrate/describe what happens when the milk begins to cool and sink.

What You Discovered:

How does this demonstration apply to thunderstorm cloud formation?

Challenge: Use the terms anvil cloud, updraft, virga, and mammatus clouds in your description.