May 2014
Reading Road Map:  Extreme Weather
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Extreme or not, everyone talks about the weather! And kids -- like everyone else -- will have opinions to share about the heat, cold, rain, wind or snow. Cover the thrills and chills of this everyday topic in your Read-Aloud and take reading and learning about weather to the extreme. 

Recommended books
Otis and the Tornado by Loren Long
Ages 4 to 8

Though the likeable

tractor Otis and the farm animals have had no luck befriending the bullying bull, Otirisks his own safety to rescue the bull when the sky turns dark and stormy. The drama and tension in this fast-paced book will have readers whirling with excitement!

Tornadoes! by Gail Gibbons
Ages 6 and up
In this exciting nonfiction read, Gail Gibbons gives the straightforward facts about how and where tornadoes form and what you should do when a tornado approaches. Through both text and illustrations, the book covers the damage that a tornado causes, including related deaths, so be prepared for sensitive readers to express their concerns. 

Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco  
Ages 4 and up

When a big storm approaches, a grandmother distracts her granddaughter from the scary sound of thunder by getting her to help gather all the ingredients to make Thunder Cake. By the time the cake is on the table, the little girl is no longer afraid. This read-aloud title calls for sound effects. Encourage readers to join in!

 

Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll by Franklyn M. Branley

Ages 5 to 9

Read this electrifying title to explain all the scientific basics of a thunderstorm and offer safety steps to follow when lightning is flashing. Switch the light on and off and make your best thunder noises to practice counting and calculating storm distance. 

 

Hurricane by David Wiesner 
Ages 4 to 8 

Brothers George and David find a tree downed by a hurricane to be a very happy accident as they spend several joyous days using it for all sorts of creative play. With its lush watercolor illustrations, this title gives readers a chance to talk about two powerful forces -- nature and imagination.  


The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane by Joanna Cole
Ages 5 to 9
You may find this title to be a little too long for a Read-Aloud, but a smaller group will love pouring over the fun facts Miss Frizzle's class uncovers as they take a field trip inside a hurricane!

 

Alert readers to other types of "extreme weather" phenomenon with these titles:

 

cloudy with meatballs

Bartholomew and the Oobleck 

by Dr. Seuss

Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather 

by Jennifer Arena

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 

by Judi Barrett

Can It Rain Cats and Dogs? Questions and Answers About Weather by Melvin and Gilda Berger

 


Constructive Conversations

Help kids make a personal connection to the weather. Ask them how the weather affects their daily activities.

 

Find out how familiar kids are with weather forecasts. Ask why we need weather forecasts. Who depends on them and why? Do they know the difference between a severe storm watch and a warning? What should they do if either is issued?

 

Ask kids to name and describe as many different kinds of weather as they can. Pick one of their suggestions, then ask kids to picture themselves going to school on a day with that weather. What would they wear to stay dry, warm, safe, etc.? Talk about shielding oneself against extremes of weather, like using sunscreen on bright, sunny days or appropriate footwear in snowy or icy conditions.

 

Discuss extreme weather where we live. What kinds of weather events do we have? Talk about what makes a weather event "extreme." Ask, "How are the components for extreme weather events the same? How are they different?" Then help kids to identify that many weather events have certain things in common, including wind, clouds, and high or low temperatures.


Activities
Hopefully, you'll never encounter a tornado. But you can simulate that violently rotating column of air and observe how a vortex forms when you make this simple tornado in a jar.
 

Wint-O-Green
 Lifesavers candies and a dark room are all you need to learn more about electric fields in a lightning storm and make lightning in your mouth! If this activity breaks a "no-candy" rule, use pliers to crush the candy in a darkened room. 
 
 
 

Design and create simple instruments that make the sounds of weather conditions. Let kids decorate a sheet of card stock and wave and wobble it to make thunder. Or have 

them draw and cut out a cloud from two sheets of card stock. Staple the sides and bottom, add a few spoonfuls of dry lentils or rice inside the cloud, then staple the top closed. Cover with

cotton balls and shake for rain! Encourage kids make up weather stories to tell you using their instruments to make special sound effects.

   
Movement
Simon (the Weatherman) Says

 

When you play Simon (the Weatherman) Says, give players a chance to act out several of these silly interpretations of weather before giving an order without saying "Simon the Weatherman Says." 

  • Fall down like heavy rain
  • Stomp your feet like loud thunder
  • Spin like a tornado
  • Clap your hands like lightning
  • Drift your hands down like quiet snow falling
  • Blow like a hurricane
  • Float around like a cloud
Let someone else have a turn as Simon the Weatherman and see what other weather moves in!

More Resources
Announcements
 
Wednesday, May 14.  Choosing the Perfect Book Volunteer Seminar
Learn about picking the perfect books for your Read-Alouds at our spring volunteer seminar on Wednesday, May 14 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Key School in Arlington, VA. RSVP here.
 
Thursday, May 22.  TRC is a finalist in the Washington Post 2014 Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management. The winner will be announced at the Best Practices Celebration of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement on May 22, 2014, at The Washington Post. We'd love to have volunteers and other supporters join us for this celebration. RSVP here.

 

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