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DISCUSS (1 of 2):
Do you have strong winds where you live?
Have you ever experienced a natural hazard like a tornado, hurricane, or dust storm?
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DISCUSS (2 of 2):
What kind of problems do you think strong winds cause?
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DISCUSS:
How could you protect your house during a windstorm?
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These online books are free with registration as an educator on Epic!
How a House is Built by Gail Gibbons: A book that shows the many different steps that go into building a house. (Ages 5-7)
Wind by Ann Herriges: Learn all about where wind comes from, as well as what it can do, in this book. (Ages 5-7)
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| Exploration | 18 min |
| Hands-On Activity | 35 min |
| Wrap-Up | 2 min |
In this lesson, students explore the effects of natural hazards, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and dust storms. In the activity, Design a Windproof House, students build paper house models. Then, using limited materials, students design multiple solutions that will make their houses sturdy enough to survive a wind storm, and compare the merits of their solutions.
| Design a Windproof House worksheet | 1 per student |
| Paper House Model printout | 1 per student |
| Windmaker printout | 1 per student |
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Blank Paper (8.5 x 11")
Recycled is fine.
|
Details
1 sheet per pair
|
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Scissors
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1 pair per student |
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Dot Stickers
We prefer stickers because they are easier to distribute in a classroom.
Tape also works.
|
Details
2 stickers per student
|
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Dot Stickers
We prefer stickers because they are easier to distribute in a classroom.
Tape also works.
|
Details
2 stickers per pair
|
|
Paper Clips
|
1 clip per student |
|
Paper Clips
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4 clips per pair |
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Toothpicks
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6 toothpicks per pair |
We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.
Students first need one paper clip and two dot stickers to build their paper house model. For the second part of the activity, each pair will need a blank sheet of paper, six toothpicks, four paper clips, and two dot stickers to design a solution that prevents their house from blowing over in the wind. You may want to separate the supplies for these two parts of the activity for ease of classroom distribution.
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
These online books are free with registration as an educator on Epic!
How a House is Built by Gail Gibbons: A book that shows the many different steps that go into building a house. (Ages 5-7)
Wind by Ann Herriges: Learn all about where wind comes from, as well as what it can do, in this book. (Ages 5-7)
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
This unique dome-shaped house is built to survive huge hurricanes.
After you complete the lesson and activity, try this extension.
Things fly through the air all the time during a tornado or a hurricane. Does this mean nothing is in the air on normal days? This activity explores this question.
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