TeachersFirst's Hurricane Resources
This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students understand hurricanes and the historic events surrounding major hurricanes. Explore these resources during a unit on weather or disasters and include related projects and classroom activities. Classrooms in hurricane-prone areas may want to stop to observe anniversaries of local hurricane history or even to conduct local history projects in conjunction with some of these starter resources. Turn frightening natural disasters into positive learning using the background on these helpful sites.
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Mensa for Kids - Mensa Foundation
Grades
K to 9
tag(s): africa (134), colors (61), genetics (70), geometric shapes (131), gifted (62), hurricanes (35), literature (219), probability (93), STEM (235), stories and storytelling (36), writing (302)
In the Classroom
Enrollment in Mensa isn't required to take advantage of the many resources found on this site for all students. Use the reading lists as a starting point for stocking your class library or a student reading list for the current school year. Encourage students to complete the reading list and return to Mensa for a free t-shirt. Incorporate the lesson plans into your existing curriculum, then differentiate learning as you adapt to student needs. For example, use the Book Review Writing lesson to help students understand the difference between reviews and reports. This lesson also includes specific information on what to have with book reports. Begin by teaching this lesson in small groups, then use Google Jamboard, reviewed here, to create a frame for each of the main topics. Enhance student learning by asking students to add sticky notes with their observations and thoughts. Have your group work together to share their book review using a simple to use blogging tool such as Telegraph, reviewed here. Extend learning further by creating a class podcast sharing book reviews created through the lesson process found on Mensa for Kids. Buzzsprout, reviewed here, is a free tool for creating and publishing podcasts that is appropriate for students of all ages. Use Buzzsprout to record and share book reviews throughout the school year.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Disaster Fact Sheets - FEMA
Grades
K to 6tag(s): disasters (36), earthquakes (44), fire safety (16), floods (10), heat (15), hurricanes (35), red ribbon week (10), snow (16), tornadoes (15), tsunamis (16), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use during your weather unit as an introduction to types of severe weather. One of the fact sheets discusses home fires and is perfect to include with Red Ribbon Week activities. After sharing disaster facts with students, ask students to create word clouds using vocabulary terms related to any specific type of disaster. Improve student learning by using a site like Word It Out, reviewed here, to easily create custom word clouds. Upon completion of your unit, ask students to create a book sharing their tips and advice for dealing with disasters. Reshape and redefine learning by using an interactive book creation tool like Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator offers tools for making online books that include images, videos, audio, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Extreme Event - Koshland Science Museum
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (105), disasters (36), earthquakes (44), floods (10), game based learning (167), hurricanes (35), logic (162), problem solving (219)
In the Classroom
Use the materials found on Extreme Event as a hands-on lesson in problem-solving, short and long term planning, and building community. Use an online tool such as Interactive Three Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast different strategies needed to solve problems in different crisis situations. Challenge students to create a brochure or newsletter sharing their findings. Are you integrating technology in your class? Instead of the traditional paper brochure, enhance student learning by using Marq, reviewed here, or if you are more experienced use Sway, reviewed here, and create a newsletter. If you complete this activity with different classes, share results from the different games as part of your discussions on your problem-solving decisions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SciJinks: Its All About Weather! - NOAA/NASA
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): atmosphere (22), careers (133), hurricanes (35), oceans (134), science fairs (20), scientific method (47), scientists (61), seasons (32), space (206), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Although geared toward middle school students and educators, anyone who teaches weather will want to take the time to explore this site for student and teacher resources. From the top right menu find the Educators section for activities, science fair ideas, and content aligned to standards. Share a link to games and activities on classroom computers and your class website. Upon completing activities, have students create an online or printed comic about an element of weather, climate, meteorology, or any aspect of Earth science. Use a tool such as Printable Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here, for a nontech rough and final draft. If you're new to using technology with your students, or teach younger students enhance their learning and augment techology use with ToonyTool, reviewed here, for their final drafts. To to enhance learning and modify tech use in your class for more experienced, older students try Make Beliefs Comix, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Weather Underground - Hurricane and Tropical Cyclones
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): disasters (36), hurricanes (35), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Introduce the class to the most current hurricanes forming with a projector or interactive whiteboard. Challenge students to find similar hurricanes from the past and ask them to make a prediction about the current one. Have them prove their predictions using a tool like the interactive Venn Diagram Three Circle,reviewed here, or the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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When Nature Strikes: Science of Natural Hazards - NBC Learn
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): earthquakes (44), floods (10), hurricanes (35), natural disasters (17), scientists (61), tornadoes (15), tsunamis (16), volcanoes (54), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on the weather. Divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Have each group choose a video to use as a launching pad for further study. Enhance their learning with the challenge to use YiNote, reviewed here, which is a Chrome extension for taking notes online on the video while watching it. Have students create an annotated, narrated image, including text boxes and related links, using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. Place the videos on your classroom website or blog for students to explore on their own. Flip your instruction, and have your scientists watch the videos before class time to build background knowledge. Review nonfiction reading strategies with students before reading the transcripts. Have students investigate STEM careers by researching the jobs of the scientists interviewed in the videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sky Diary - Chris Kidler
Grades
2 to 7This site includes advertising.
tag(s): careers (133), hurricanes (35), tornadoes (15), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Share information from the site on your interactive whiteboard during weather, career, or storm preparedness units. Challenge students to create an avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted to be reproduced). The avatars can be used to explain the development of hurricanes or tornadoes, or severe weather safety instructions. Use a site such as Avatar Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Stormpulse - Stormpulse
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (35), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Watch storm movement and predict potential path. Use archives to determine common paths, areas where storms are more prevalent, change in numbers of hurricanes in different decades, etc. Use this site as a springboard for further research and better understanding of causes of hurricanes, factors that change the movement, destruction from hurricanes, or how best to prepare for hurricanes. Students can create traditional (poster, bulletin board) or multimedia presentations (newscasts, wiki, blog) on storms or even "create" a mythical storm of the future that follows predictable patterns, documenting it on a class weatherwiki. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): PBWorks (wiki), Site123 (blog), Renderforest (newscast video), and Genial.ly (poster/bulletin board).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Web Weather for Kids - University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): air (106), atmosphere (22), climate change (80), earth (177), hurricanes (35), space (206), sun (63), weather (154)
In the Classroom
To introduce your students to this resource, use your whiteboard or projector and Read Ahead, reviewed here, to highlight important phrases and keywords. Then use Padlett, reviewed here, to create a chart for students to store those key ideas. Use the top menu bar to find enjoyable, interactive activities and games for your students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hurricane & Tropical Storm Tracking
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (35), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Assign a student each week to check with this site for forecasting the weather in your area. Keep a class chart using Displayr, reviewed here, and have the assigned students update it weekly.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hurricane Guide - Miami Science Museum
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (35), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Use this site to guide students on how to prepare for a hurricane and what to expect. Use Read Ahead, reviewed here, on your whiteboard or with a projector to mark keywords and phrases for younger students. Bookmark this site for your student's research papers and projects on hurricanes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How Hurricanes Work - The Why Files - University of Wisconsin
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (35), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Go through this site with your younger children to find out about how hurricanes form. Use a tool like Lino, reviewed here, for students to collect facts about hurricane formation. Bookmark this site for your student's research papers and projects on hurricanes.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Case Study - Hurricane Andrew - University of Illinois
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (35), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Divide students into small groups and have them take notes about Hurricane Andrew using Memo Notepad, reviewed here. Next enhance student learning by having them take notes about Hurricane Ian - September 2022, reviewed here. Extend student learning by having them make a Padlet, reviewed here, with columns to make comparisons between the two hurricanes. Then ask them to use Flip, reviewed here, to explain to other students what was most significant about both hurricanes. Ask them to respond to other student's videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Explanation of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale - MIStupid
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (35), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Allow cooperative learning groups to explore this site during a lesson on Hurricanes and their categorization. Have groups explore the site, with the intentions of summarizing the information in a multimedia presentation. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online infographic to share using Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Hurricane Center - US Government
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (35), weather (154)
In the Classroom
Use the data to determine where the most severe hurricanes occur and to determine why they occur in those areas. Research the science behind the events and reasons for the devastation. Have students create an action plan in the event of severe hurricanes or identify ways to lessen devastating effects of some of the events. Students can also research recent year's data and make comparisons of the numbers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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