TORNADOES

EMPAC TS P RO J EC T P R ESENTAT I O N Amanda Simpson and Lindsey Upton

C. Dianne Phillips, Instructor

Intro to Physical Science, Spring 2015

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INTRODUCTION

As future teachers, our team was tasked with educating 3rd-5th

graders at the STEM fair at the Pea Ridge Intermediate School.

Our team chose tornadoes as our

physical science topic.

We presented information on how

tornadoes form to 9 rotations of classes.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

We collaborated with students from the other section of physical science taught by Professor Phillips, and we focused on:

how tornadoes form, what to do when caught in one

•how tornadoes are measured

• the extent of destruction tornadoes cause

Each of us helped teach the children during our demonstrations and helped to run the tornado demonstration which included a cloud chamber where a cloud formed and was spun into a vortex by a fan.

OUR COMBINED “STEM FAIR” EMPACTS TEAM

Taylor McMillan

MW Physical Science

Amanda Simpson and

Lindsey Upton

TTH Physical Science

COMMUNITY

This project was meant to educate the 3rd-5th graders of Pea Ridge about the science behind tornado formation and how to be safe in the event of a tornado.

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CURRICULUM COLLEGE LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES

Physical Science Concepts We will learn:

How tornadoes form and the specific conditions needed for formation of tornadoes.

Where tornadoes form and why they form in certain areas of the world.

The distribution and frequency of tornadoes in the U.S.

About the global climatic processes which influence the distribution and frequency of tornadoes in the world.

Teaching We will learn:

How to adapt college level concepts to K-5 learners.

How to create a lesson plan and presentation for 3rd- 5th graders.

To use problem-solving skills needed by all teachers as we assessed and made last minute repairs and adjustments to our presentation.

Valuable teaching skills and class management skills as we engaged different groups of students in 10-20 minute segments.

How to create professional lesson plans for our teaching portfolios.

Use technology proficiently.

CURRICULUM

ESS.8.2.5 Chart weather conditions

ESS.8.4.9 Demonstrate safety procedures related to severe weather

ESS.8.4.10 Describe weather related natural disasters

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TECHNOLOGY USED

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METHODOLOGY

We both decided on the topic of tornadoes and chose what aspects of tornadoes we were going to research and present

Division of labor:

-Amanda: Research, created lesson plans, made water bottle demonstration, created the children’s PowerPoint, set up for the fair, worked on the final PowerPoint

- Lindsey: Research, created the peer presentation, presented at the fair, worked the tornado machine, tornado water bottle demonstration, worked on the final PowerPoint

-Taylor: Assisted in the classroom demonstration using the tornado machine, as well as help in transport and setup of the materials for our presentation.

WATER BOTTLE ACTIVITY

Demonstrated the look of a tornado and its rotation within the bottle

Kids would tip the bottles over while twisting them simultaneously to create the tornado effect

I added food coloring and glitter to add some effects of what debris would look like in a tornado and how easy it can be for a tornado to pick of debris

Had some problems with the bottles before the fair, because the tape started to fail and they started to leak. But luckily we found more tape and were able to repair them in time

The kids seemed to enjoy the bottles and playing with them during the fair

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TORNADO MACHINE DEMONSTRATION With the help of Lee, Taylor (from the other class) and the EMPACTS lab, we were able to borrow and use the Tornado machine, constructed originally by students in a previous physical science course, to demonstrate what a tornado would look like to the students

The activity required a box fan, pointed upward as to suck the air out of the machine

Warm water heated in a beater on top of a burner with dry ice added to create a temperature differential, which created a cloud in the chamber.

When the cloud collected in the bottom of the chamber, we then placed the fan on top, facing the right way, it would cause the cloud to rotate upward, creating a tornado effect, a cyclonic motion.

We came across a few problems during the fair, like forgetting gloves to handle the dry ice, and accidentally pointing the fan the wrong way during the demonstration.

PROJECT RESULTS We worked professionally with Professor Phillips and in collaboration with a school to create a presentation for a Science Fair for the students at Pea Ridge Intermediate School.

Worked together efficiently as a team and in collaboration with a larger team of peers from another section of Physical Science as we cooperated to bring all materials needed for all teams to the school for set up.

We learned to problem solve as a team and to communication within an extended team framework.

We developed and honed our communication skills as we developed and implemented a classroom science demonstration on tornadoes.

We learned how to create activities and develop a science lesson plan set to a specific k-6 curriculum.

We learned individual and team accountability as we worked together as a team to accomplish individual objectives and then integrate all into a larger project

LINDSEY’S EXPERIENCE

I enjoyed working with Amanda, because she knows to work hard and get it all done

I loved working with the kids because they were adorable and fascinated in the tornado machine and the bottle activity

It was a lot of fun to get to learn new things about Minecraft since I didn’t know much about it before, and I like learning how the tornado machine works

Overall, it was a great experience learning how to use my time wisely to get all the PowerPoints and requirements completed

AMANDA’S EXPERIENCE

I enjoyed the project because it was great practice for when I become a teacher and need to create lesson plans and activities

I wish I could have interacted with the students more during the fair, but I ran out of time and had to leave before the students came to our station

I loved working with Lindsey, not just because she is my best friend, but because we both work well together and know to get the work done well and efficiently

I now know I am pretty much a pro at making PowerPoints now after this project, and I love making fun activities like the tornado bottle activity

MOST OF ALL, WE HAD A BLAST!

Teaching Science

Is FUN!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Taylor McMillan, MW Physical Science Class

Dianne Phillips- Professor of Science and Mathematics, NWACC

Pea Ridge Intermediate School, Tracy Hager, Master Teacher

Lee Stidham, classmate and EMPACTS Laboratory Specialist

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REFERENCES http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/tornado

http://www.outlook.noaa.gov/tornadoes/fujita.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWh9jV_1ac

http://www.livescience.com/45546-how-do-

tornadoes-form.html

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/tornado

http://www.outlook.noaa.gov/tornadoes/fujita.htm

http://www.livescience.com/45546-how-do-

tornadoes-form.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWh9jV_1ac

http://www.doe.in.gov/safety/tornado-safety-

recommendations

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/tornado

http://www.outlook.noaa.gov/tornadoes/fujita.htm

http://www.livescience.com/45546-how-do-tornadoes-

form.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmWh9jV_1ac

http://www.doe.in.gov/safety/tornado-safety-

recommendations

http://tornadoalleymovie.com/index.php/explore/torn

ado_facts/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker_Air_Force_Base

http://www.radartutorial.eu/11.coherent/co06.en.html

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-tornado.htm