While Summer Break is a time to relax, for many students and families around the country, June 1st marks the beginning of Hurricane Season. Many have to prepare and keep a constant eye on the weather report. To make this a learning opportunity for your young students, here are 5 cross-curricular lesson ideas from our Units on Hurricanes.
Geography
Use the captions and map from Hurricane Hugo to chart the path of the storm on a large class map that has a scale. Students can begin by marking the cities and islands mentioned in the captions. After students have charted the hurricane’s path, have them use the map’s scale to determine how far the hurricane traveled.
Language Arts
Have students try their hand at writing the opening paragraph for a magazine on hurricanes. Students might read the paragraph at the beginning of What is a Hurricane? for an example of one way to begin. Students might begin with a description of a hurricane, or they might want to begin with hard facts, such as how many people were injured or killed in a specific hurricane. Remind students that there is no one right way to write the opening paragraph, but it should be interesting and involving.
Art
Have students draw their version of the “evil spirit of the winds,” which the Taino people believed caused fierce storms. Students might look at the image on the bottom of What is a Hurricane? for one example. Students might also try their hand at creating a “good spirit of the wind,” which brings only sunny skies and fair weather. Display the artwork on a bulletin board so students can see the various ways people can represent the same concept.
Social Studies
Have students pretend that they are a weather forecaster who is reporting from an area that will be hit by a hurricane in the next 24 hours. Using the information on pages Preparing for a Hurricane, students should warn viewers of the possible damage that may happen and how they can prepare. Next, students should act as a reporter in an area that will be hit by a hurricane within the next hour. How have the reporting and warnings changed? Finally, students should “report” from an area that is picking up the pieces after a hurricane. Reporters should warn viewers about possible hazards and talk to “local people” (other students) whose homes were damaged.
Science
Many different kinds of clouds exist. Each one is unique looking and each signals a specific kind of weather. Cumulonimbus, for example, signals thunderstorms. Have students find out about the different kinds of clouds and draw a picture of each. Below each picture, students should write the name of the cloud, details about the cloud, such as whether it is a “high” or “low” cloud, and what kind of weather the cloud foretells.
