KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

PROFESSIONAL SEMESTER PROGRAM
LESSON PLAN FORMAT
Teacher Candidate: _Gabrielle Gartland_________________ Date: _______________________
Cooperating Teacher: _________________________________________________
Coop. Initials: ________________
Group Size: __25___ Allotted Time: ______________________ Grade Level:_4th_______
Subject or Topic: _Science: Tornados _____________Section: _____________________
STANDARD: (PA Common Core):
S4.A.3.2.2: Use models to make observations to explain how systems work (e.g., water cycle,
Sun-Earth-Moon system).
I. Performance Objectives (Learning Outcomes)
A. Students will be able to create their own tornado and comprehend how a tornado forms
and the effects.
II. Instructional Materials
A. Empty soda bottles
B. water
C. electrical tape
D. glitter
E. food coloring
F. smart board
III. Subject Matter/ Content (prerequisite skills, key vocabulary, big idea)
A. Prerequisite skills
1. Fine motor skill
2. General understanding of the water cycle
B. Key vocabulary
1. EF rating scale
2. Tornado
C. Big Idea
1. Tornados are made from two opposing winds meeting.
IV. Implementation
A. Introduction
1. The teacher will show video footage of tornados to grab students attention
2. The teacher should ask the students if they have even been in a tornado or seen
one
3. The teacher should ask students what they think happens during a tornado and
encourage discussion.
B. Development
1. The teacher will allow students to pick partners or match students up in groups of
two.
2. The teacher should provide each group with 2 soda bottles, a bottle of food

coloring, glitter and electrical tape.

3. Students should fill one soda bottle half way with water and add a few drops of
food coloring and 2 pinches of glitter
4. The teacher should explain that the food coloring is so the students can see the
tornado better and the glitter will represent the things the tornado has picked up.
5. The students should then place the other bottle on top of the one filled with water
a. The openings should be facing each other
6. The students should then tape the two bottles together
a. The teacher should go around and check the bottles to make sure they
dont leak.
7. The students should then move the bottle in a circular movement while flipping
the bottle over so the water can pour into the other bottle.
a. This should create a whirl pool the looks like a tornado if not have the
students retry.
8. The teacher should ask the students what they see and what they think caused the
tornado in the bottle.
9. The teacher should then explain why the tornado in the bottle actually occurs
10. The students should put away their water bottles.
11. The teacher will the put on Bill Nye the Science Guy and storms starting at 15:53
and ending at 19:30
12. The students fill in notes as they watch the video.
13. The teacher should bring up the EF rating scale to show students the damage
different tornados can make.
C. Closure
1. The teacher will then bring up the tornado simulator
2. Each group should get a chance to play the simulator on the smart board.
3. The students should use their EF rating hand out to pick the correct rating.
D. Accommodations / Differentiation
1. Handouts and follow along notes can be provided in braille or larger text for
students with sight impairment.

E. Assessment/Evaluation plan
1. Formative
a. The teacher will use a checklist to see who answers the EF rating correctly
2. Summative
b. The teacher will collect the fill in notes for assessment.
V. Reflective Response
A. Report of Students Performance in Terms of States Objectives.
1. Students who failed to pick the correct EF rating can play the game again and
review the EF rating scale with the teacher again.
B. Personal Reflection

1. Will the students be able to correctly create the tornado in a bottle?

a. Most students were able to create the tornado in a bottle with minimal
mess and were able to get the tornado to appear. All of them
recognized the spinning of the tornado.
VI. Resources
Devitt, T. (2014, May 8). Tornadoes strike again. How do they work? Retrieved March 19, 2015,
from http://whyfiles.org/2014/tornadoes-strike-again-how-do-they-work/
ZOOM . activities . phenom . Tornado in a Bottle. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2015, from
http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/phenom/tornadoinabottle.html
Bill Nye The Science Guy & Storms [Motion picture]. (n.d.). USA: Youtube.