Lesson: Blowing in the Wind

Ask students what makes a hurricane different from a typical rainstorm (e.g., wind speed, damage to buildings). Ask students what they know about how hurricanes are categorized. Then watch “Into the Storm." Discuss what the video showed about the Saffir-Simpson scale and hurricane damage. Distribute the skills sheet “Storm Strength.” Read the instructions and the information in the chart aloud before discussing what categories applied to different hurricanes, like Hurricane Sandy or Hurricane Harvey. Have students complete the skills sheet.

Ask students to discuss ways that humans are affected by hurricanes. Then ask how they think the storms affect wildlife. What challenges would animals face during and after the storms? How might animals survive these storms and the aftermath? Discuss their answers. Ask: Do you think wildlife are more or less affected by the storms than people? Why?

Open the article in magazine view and read it aloud. Pause after the introduction and ask students to predict what adaptations might help lizards survive hurricanes. Record their ideas. Then continue reading. When you are fi nished, discuss how students’ predictions compare with what the scientists found.

Watch “Against the Wind” to observe the scientists’ experiment in action. Then distribute the “Hold On!” skills sheet and ask students to evaluate the tools the scientists used. Prompt them to refer to the diagram on the skills sheet. What was the purpose of each tool? What are the benefi ts and disadvantages of using home equipment like a leaf blower? (for example, easily obtained, may not be as accurate as high-tech scientific tools, etc.) Have students complete the skills sheet.

Assign the “Investigate It! Blowing in the Wind” skills sheet. Ask students to write a 150- to 200-word claim to answer the final question. Remind students that a scientific claim needs sufficient and relevant supporting evidence. Instruct them to read their answer to a peer and revise it as necessary.

⇨ VIDEO EXTRA: Watch a video about how lizards are affected by hurricanes.

⇨ VIDEO EXTRA: Watch a video all about hurricanes.