Why Do People Watch the Weather?
People have always watched the sky. They wanted to stay safe from big storms.
Long ago, people did not have TVs or phones. They had to look at the clouds and wind to know if a storm was coming!
Today, we ask questions about storms. Asking questions helps us learn and stay safe. What do you wonder about storms?
What Is Severe Weather?
Severe weather means really big, strong weather. That means storms that can be scary or even dangerous.
Scientists ask lots of questions to learn about these storms. You can ask questions too!
Thunderstorms
Tornadoes
Blizzards
Hurricanes
What Do Severe Storms Look Like?
Let's look at a picture of different kinds of severe weather. Each storm looks and sounds different!
Our anchoring phenomenon is this: A family is outside and sees dark clouds. They hear loud thunder. What questions should they ask? Let's find out!
How Do We Ask Good Questions?
Scientists ask questions to learn about storms. You are a scientist too! You ask questions every day.
When we see or hear something about weather, we can observe it. That means we look carefully and listen. Then we ask a question about what we noticed.
What Happens in Each Storm?
Each kind of severe weather is different. Let's look at what we can see, hear, and feel in each one.
| Storm | What You See | What You Hear | What You Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm ⛈️ | Dark clouds, bright flashes of lightning | Loud thunder, heavy rain | Strong wind, cold rain |
| Tornado 🌪️ | A spinning tube from the clouds | Very loud roaring sound | Very strong pushing wind |
| Blizzard ❄️ | So much snow you cannot see far | Howling wind | Very, very cold |
| Hurricane 🌀 | Huge waves, lots of rain | Loud wind and rain | Strong wind and warm rain |
We use our senses to notice storms. That means we use our eyes, ears, and skin. What we notice helps us ask good questions!
Let's Practice Asking Questions!
Let's pretend we are outside. We see very dark clouds and feel strong wind. Let's practice asking questions like a scientist!
How Do Questions Keep Us Safe?
Asking questions about severe weather helps people prepare. That means they get ready before the storm comes.
| Good Questions to Ask | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| "Is a storm coming?" | We can get ready before it starts. |
| "Where should we go?" | We can find a safe place inside. |
| "What should we bring?" | We can get a flashlight and water. |
| "When will the storm end?" | We know when it is safe to go outside again. |
Asking More Questions as We Grow
Right now, you are learning to ask questions about severe weather. As you get bigger, you will learn even more!
| What You Learn Now | What You Learn Later |
|---|---|
| Name different kinds of storms | Learn what causes each storm |
| Ask questions about storms | Test ideas about weather |
| Know storms can be dangerous | Learn how people build things to handle storms |
Every question you ask now helps you become a better scientist later. Keep asking! Keep wondering! You are doing amazing.
Practice: Asking Questions About Storms
Read the story below. Then try the questions! A new scenario: You are at school. You look outside the window and see lots and lots of snow falling. The wind is blowing very hard. Your teacher says it is a blizzard.
What Did We Learn?
We learned that severe weather means really big, strong storms like thunderstorms, tornadoes, blizzards, and hurricanes. We can observe storms by looking and listening. Then we ask questions to learn more and stay safe.
Good questions about storms include "What should we do?" and "Where should we go?" Asking questions is what scientists do! Every question you ask makes you a better scientist. Keep being curious and stay safe! 🌟