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?
DISCUSS (2 of 2):
What kind of problems do you think strong winds cause?
DISCUSS:
How could you protect your house during a windstorm?
Students will work in groups of 2-4 in this activity. Each group will need one Summer Ice Storm - Hail Protection worksheet.
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.
Preview activityDesign a Windproof House worksheet | 1 per student |
Paper House Model printout | 1 per student |
Windmaker printout | 1 per student |
Blank Paper (8.5 x 11")
Recycled is fine.
|
Details
1 sheet per pair
|
Scissors
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1 pair per student |
Dot Stickers
We prefer stickers because they are easier to distribute in a classroom.
Tape also works.
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Details
2 stickers per student
|
Dot Stickers
We prefer stickers because they are easier to distribute in a classroom.
Tape also works.
|
Details
2 stickers per pair
|
Paper Clips
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1 clip per student |
Paper Clips
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4 clips per pair |
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.
Student slideshow: English | Spanish
Teacher printout: English & Spanish
In this reading, students learn that seasons look different in different places.
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.
You can elaborate student learning and engagement with Mystery Science mini-lessons.
Why are tornadoes so hard to predict? In this mini-lesson students learn why wind storms called tornadoes are difficult to predict.
What's worse: a hurricane or a tornado? In this mini-lesson students explore which wind storm might be worse – a hurricane or a tornado.
If you are in an NGSS state, these mini-lessons support the DCI ESS3.B: Natural Hazards
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