Beth Persons
ELE 425-Neosho
5th Grade

Materials: 
	Ruckman, Ivy. Night of the Twisters. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1984.
	Powerpoint/computer for FEMA website
	gallon bags
	handout
	backpack w/ personal items
	brochures from American Red Cross

Lesson time span: 20 min

GLEs/STANDARDS:
R.1.I.b text to self (text ideas and own experiences)
R.2.C.b make inferences about setting, character traits, problem and solution, and story events
R.3.C.a explain main idea and supporting details
R1F5-CA 2, 3, 1.5, 1.6-Apply pre-reading strategies to aid comprehension access prior knowledge
R1H5- CA 2, 3, 1.5, 1.6, 3.5-Apply post-reading skills to demonstrate comprehension of text question to clarify, reflect, draw conclusions, analyze, paraphrase, summarize
R1I5-CA 3, 7, 1.5, 1.6, 1.9, 3.5-Compare, contrast and analyze connections between text to self
R2C5-CA 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8-Use details from text to  identify and explain cause and effect

Objectives: SWBAT
•	synthesize given information, analyze problem, and create a solution
•	design tornado survival kits
•	brainstorm about dilemma and identify best practice
•	connect text to self
•	create an appropriate title

Vocabulary:
vocabulary at grade-level 
ask students after reading if they need a definition

Differentiation:
assist students with reading or writing difficult words; make list on board

Introduction/Anticipatory Set:
Give tornado quiz as pre-test
Orally review some proper tornado procedures
students take tornado quiz
Show map of Nebraska, specifically Grand Island area
Review previous events on timeline

Teacher Modeling:
read p. 50 to introduce chapter
reading aloud pp. 51-60
read newspaper article

Guided Practice:
Based on the events in this chapter, what would be a good title for this book?
What do you think was the smartest thing the boys did?
Identify a problem and describe their solution.
In groups, decide what you should put in a backpack survival kit.
In groups, list 10 items you should put in an emergency kit.
(In 2 groups) If you were in the boys’ shoes, what would you do?

Independent Practice:
in pairs: students identify one problem at the end and develop a solution
give students gallon bag with brochures and paper
students make a list with at least 10 items for individual survival but they must fit in the bag
divide class into 2 groups and brainstorm about problem

Summarizing/closure:
Preparedness and clear thinking are important to tornado safety.  

Assessment:
Students will list at least 10 items for emergency kit
Students will create a survival backpack list
Identify problem and boys’ reaction.
Students will answer 10 quiz questions correctly.
Kid's Tornado Quiz
1.	Which natural disaster comes from powerful thunderstorms and appears as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds? 
a.	Hurricanes 
b.	Tornadoes 
c.	Earthquakes 
d.	Floods
2.	What wind speed can a tornado reach? 
a.	50 MPH 
b.	750 MPH 
c.	300 MPH 
d.	500 MPH
3.	The area of the United States that has the highest risk for tornadoes is _______. 
a.	Tornado Alley 
b.	Funnel Town 
c.	Disaster Pathway 
d.	Alaska
4.	Tornado season typically begins in _____ and ends in _______. 
a.	January; September 
b.	August; December 
c.	March; August 
d.	November; June
5.	What is the most important thing to do when a tornado is nearby? 
a.	Call your best friend 
b.	Take cover 
c.	Get your camera out so you can take pictures 
d.	Watch TV until the tornado is gone
6.	A tornado watch is: 
a.	When you get your binoculars out and look for a funnel cloud 
b.	When tornadoes are possible in your area 
c.	A device that tells you what time a tornado is going to strike 
d.	When a tornado has been spotted in your area
7.	A tornado warning is: 
a.	When tornadoes are possible in your area 
b.	When your mom tells you to do your science homework 
c.	When a tornado has been spotted in your area 
d.	A device that predicts how big a tornado is going to be
8.	What do you call a special room built inside the house that is designed to withstand very high winds and flying debris? 
a.	Oz Room 
b.	Safe Room 
c.	Tornado Tester Room 
d.	There is no such room
9.	There is never a lot of damage caused by tornadoes. 
a.	True 
b.	False
10.	Which of the following are actions you can take to protect your home? 
a.	Building a safe room in your house 
b.	Using devices like anchors, straps and clips to secure buildings 
c.	Reinforcing garage doors for strength 
d.	All of the above 
1.	The correct answer is B -- Tornadoes come from powerful thunderstorms and appear as rotating, funnel-shaped clouds with winds that can reach 300 miles per hour.

2.	The correct answer is C -- Tornado wind speed can reach up to 300 miles per hour.

3.	The correct answer is A -- States in "Tornado Alley" (Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas) are at the highest risk for tornado damage.

4.	The correct answer is C -- Tornado season is usually March through August, although tornadoes can occur at any time of year. They tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings. Tornadoes can occur in any state, but are more frequent in the Midwest, South and Southeast.

5.	The correct answer is B -- Taking shelter once a tornado has been spotted near your house is the most important thing for you and your family to do. Find shelter in areas like a closet, interior bathroom or basement where there is little or no glass and limited objects that could become flying debris.

6.	The correct answer is B -- Remember, a Watch signals that conditions exist to produce tornadoes and that you should remain alert for approaching storms.

7.	The correct answer is C -- A Warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted or indicated by weather radar and you should take cover immediately.

8.	The correct answer is B -- A safe room is a specially constructed interior room, such as a closet or even a bathroom, that is able to withstand the high winds of a tornado and flying debris. A family would retreat to this room when a tornado has been sighted. The FEMA Web site has building plans to help families build such a room -- which can save your life.

9.	The correct answer is B, False -- Tornadoes strike with incredible velocity. Wind speeds from tornadoes can approach 300 miles per hour, and as the wind picks up, any loose items in the yard take flight. As the wind intensifies, shingles begin to lift and trees are uprooted. Unprotected doors give way and the wind is inside the house, pushing the structure from within. Poorly attached window coverings give way and, as pressure builds, the garage door fails, allowing the full force of the wind inside. And all this happens in a matter of seconds.

10.	The correct answer is D -- All of these are examples of prevention measures a family can take to reduce the damage caused by a tornado. For more information about tornado season,