Don’t close this browser tab!

This Mystery is being downloaded to your device so you can play it at home without an Internet connection.

Keep this tab open once it's downloaded in order to play the Mystery.

If you experience problems, please talk to your teacher.

0% Cancel
How can we predict when it's going to storm?

How can we predict when it's going to storm?

Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS:
What’s the worst thunderstorm you have ever experienced?

Have you ever noticed a thunderstorm coming toward you, before it arrives? What clues would you look for to know if a thunderstorm was coming your way?

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: Look at this map. From what direction do winds typically blow where you live? (Ex.: from east to west?)

Wind Map

So which way should you look to see if bad weather is coming your way?

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Finish your book! Turn to pages 5-6 and fill in the blanks. For the last blank, your teacher will tell you a local landmark to write in—that’s where you can look to see bad weather heading your way.

Pages 5 and 6 of Storm Guide

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Photo #1 of 5

Look at the picture and answer the questions on your handout.

Photo #1

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: Photo #1

Do you think there will be a storm soon? Why do you think that? If you think there will be a storm, how long will it last?

Here’s what we think...

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Photo #2 of 5

Look at the picture and answer the questions on your handout.

Photo #2

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: Photo #2

Do you think there will be a storm soon? Why do you think that? If you think there will be a storm, how long will it last?

Here's what we think...

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Photo #3 of 5

Look at the picture and answer the questions on your handout.

Photo #3

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: Photo #3

Do you think there will be a storm here soon? Why do you think that? Are there any clouds here that you think might change — clouds that you want to keep an eye on?

Here’s what we think...

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Photo #4 of 5

Here's that same beach later in the day. Now do you think a storm is coming? Answer the questions on your handout.

Photo #4

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: Photo #4

Do you think there will be a storm here soon? Why do you think that? Do you think it will be a short storm or a long one?

Here’s what we think...

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Photo #5 of 5

Look at the picture and answer the questions on your handout.

Photo #5

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

DISCUSS: Photo #5

Do you think there will be a storm here soon? Why do you think that? Are there any clouds here that you think might change — clouds that you want to keep an eye on?

Here’s what we think...

Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

cloud


1 of 9

a collection of tiny water droplets that are visible in the air
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

cumulus cloud


2 of 9

a type of cloud that is very fluffy, tall, and white
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

stratus cloud


3 of 9

a type of cloud that is long, flat, spread out, and white
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

cumulonimbus cloud


4 of 9

a type of storm cloud that is very fluffy, tall, and dark in color
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

nimbostratus cloud


5 of 9

a type of storm cloud that is long, flat, spread out, and dark in color
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

rain


6 of 9

water drops that fall from clouds
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

thunderstorm


7 of 9

a storm with thunder and lightning, usually with rain
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

hail


8 of 9

balls of ice that fall from the sky
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen
Slide Image

predict


9 of 9

to guess what will happen based on things you know
Full Screen
Controls Icon Exit Full Screen

Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
storm clouds by NOAA Photo Library , used under CC BY / cropped
lightning storm by Mary Qin , used under CC BY / cropped, trimmed
thunder storm by Sarah Coyne , used under CC BY / cropped, trimmed
plane flying by Elizabeth Hunter , used under CC BY
plane by TSgt. Michael Haggerty, USAF / heavily modified
clouds seen from plane by Jakec , used under CC BY-SA / heavily modified
cockpit by Airman 1st Class Veronica Pierce, U.S. Air Force / heavily modified
large puffy cloud by Ron Pieket , used under CC BY / cropped
hand break by Ildar Sagdejev , used under CC BY-SA / cropped
man skydiving by skeeze / heavily modified
sky by Kevin Dooley , used under CC BY / heavily modified
man parachuting by skeeze / heavily modified
rain clouds by GPS , used under CC BY / heavily modified
lightning bolt by Unsplash / heavily modified
parachuter by tpsdave / heavily modified
hail by FCB Excalibur , used under CC BY-SA / cropped, adjusted color
cumulus clouds by Colorado Clouds Blog , used under CC BY-SA
wrist watch by stock.tookapic.com
cloud watching by Leland Francisco , used under CC BY / Heavily Photoshopped
cloud formation by epSos.de , used under CC BY
off trail view by Nicholas A. Tonelli , used under CC BY
beach by Darkest tree , used under CC BY-SA
time lapse cloud formation by Mathieu Descombes
cumulonimbious 2 by Sfortis , used under CC BY-SA
cumulonimbious 4 by Neil Tackaberry , used under CC BY-ND
thunder cloud by Neil Tackaberry , used under CC BY-ND
raining cloud by Aislinn Ritchie , used under CC BY-SA
tall cloud by Neil Tackaberry , used under CC BY-ND
bedroom by Amy Gizienski , used under CC BY
map by Ktrinko
grassy area by Nicholas A. Tonelli , used under CC BY
Lesson narration:

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students learn how to make predictions about the weather by observing clouds and their changes. In the activity, Storm Spotter's Guide, students create a small book to record their notes, identify different types of clouds, and think about wind direction to figure out if a storm is heading their way.

Preview activity

Exploration

30 mins

Extend this lesson