Hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, waterspouts… What do all of these things have in common? This course module will begin to explore the basics of these systems including the Coriolis effect and how it changes depending on what type of storm you are exploring, classification of cyclones, and the temperature of cyclones and the tools used to identify them.

In this unit students will go on an in-depth journey of cyclones. In the first lesson, students will explore the Coriolis effect.

• Students will develop and use models to represent systems and their interaction.
• Students will analyze different cyclones and their Coriolis effect.
• Students will be a part of a citizen science project at cyclonecenter.org
• Students will create a visual representation of a cyclone.

In the second lesson students will explore one type of cyclone and present it to the class.

• Students will collect data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer scientific questions.
• Students will compare and contrast the information gained from their experiments and multimedia sources.
• Students will research cyclones using a citizen science project.

In this lesson students will explore the temperature of cyclones and the tools used to identify them. The students will consider the effects of temperature and wind to design an outdoor sculpture that would harness the power of one of these elements.

• Students will investigate different tools used to measure a cyclone.
• Students will design a model of an outdoor sculpture keeping those tools, temperature, and wind in mind.

• cyclonecenter.org

Lesson 1

Next Generation Science Standard MS-ESS2-6 – Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Lesson 2

Next Generation Science Standard MS-ESS2-5 – Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.

Lesson 3

Next Generation Science Standard MS-ESS2-6 – Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Lesson 2

Common Core RST.6-8.9 – Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.

Common Core SL.8.5 – Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.