We’re making weather in a bottle by making a tornado. I have this fun Free Weather Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning post for more teaching ideas.
Weather comes in all kinds of wild and crazy forms, from record highs to intense winds.
This is a super easy, low-stress science activity that takes 5 minutes to pull together.
You can do it with your child when you are learning about the weather.
And it is perfect for preschool but even through early elementary.
I think you would really enjoy this activity.
You can find loads of incredible weather facts, more ideas, and fun resources to add to your learning below.
8 Wild Weather Facts
First, add some weather facts.
- A meteorologist is a physical scientist who observes, studies, or forecasts the weather.
- A rainbow appears directly opposite the sun, but the location it appears depends on the observer. It is formed when light refracts and reflects through the water droplets in the air.
- The coldest temperature that was ever officially recorded was -89.2°C.
- One of the places with the foggiest days is in Canada – Newfoundland. They average about 185 foggy days per year.
- Tornadoes can have wind speeds upwards of 300 miles per hour.
- Hurricanes are known by different names in different parts of the world. In the US they’re known as hurricanes, while in the Northern Pacific and Philippines, they are called typhoons. And people in the Indian and South Pacific Ocean regions call them cyclones.
- A lightning bolt can reach 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit, about five times hotter than the surface of our sun.
- The windiest place on earth is Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica, with winds clocked at over 150 mph regularly and averaging 50 MPH.
Also, I have a great list of books about the weather.
Too, I always lean toward choosing living books first and then mix other books.
Books About Weather
13 Weather Resources and Books For Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To
Grab some of these fantastic weather resources and books to engage your youngest learners about what is weather.
Will it be warm or cold? Should we wear shorts or pants? Shoes or rain boots? What Will the Weather Be? uses colorful, simple diagrams to explain meteorology in a fun, engaging way. Perfect for young scientists and budding meteorologists, this bestseller features clear explanations of everyday weather instruments like thermometers and barometers.
- Nature's most destructive force can be observed and enjoyed in the palm of your hand.
- Hold Pet Tornado from top or bottom and rotate wrist form amazing funnel clouds.
See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world all around you.
Drip. Sip. Pour me a cup. Water is water unless...it heats up.Whirl. Swirl. Watch it curl by. Steam is steam unless...it cools high.This spare, poetic picture book follows a group of kids as they move through all the different phases of the water cycle. From rain to fog to snow to mist, talented author Miranda Paul and the always remarkable Jason Chin (Redwoods, Coral Reefs, Island, Gravity) combine to create a beautiful and informative journey in this innovative nonfiction picture book that will leave you thirsty for more.
What triggers a tornado? What can you see in the eye of a hurricane? What's the difference between a thunderbolt and a thunderclap? Popular author and artist Eric Sloane proves why weather is something best understood by seeing it. His illustrated book shows weather "happening." In fact, there's not a sunny page in it—nothing but cyclonic storms, whirlwinds, waterspouts, lightning bolts, and other fascinating, weather-related topics. More than seventy pages of drawings and diagrams make the weather come alive in a book that examines everything from storm mechanisms and cold fronts to the birth of a thunderhead.
"Amateur weather forecasters (which includes just about everyone) will find this volume an informative and entertaining account of the why and how of the weather." -- The Nation In simple language, Eric Sloane explains the whys and wherefores of weather and weather forecasting -- and does it in a style that's universally appealing. With humor and common sense shining through in a book that's also lively and informative, Sloane shows readers how to predict the weather by "reading" such natural phenomena as winds, skies, and animal sounds. This beautifully illustrated and practical treasure trove of climate lore will enlighten outdoorsmen, farmers, sailors, and anyone else who has ever wondered what a large halo around the moon means, why birds "sit it out" before a storm, and whether or not to take an umbrella when leaving the house.
A midwestern summer thunderstorm as seen through the eyes of artist/etcher Arthur Geisert, and depicted in unprecedented detail, beautifully hand-colored.
Thunderstorm follows the course of a storm through midwestern farm country minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, from late morning into late afternoon. As always with Arthur Geisert, it is a meticulously executed and visually stunning piece of work. Other than the timeline that runs along the bottom border of the illustrations, there is no text, and the illustrations are continuous.
Through keen observation, Geisert beautifully captures the nuances and details of a midwestern thunderstorm, from the ever-changing color of the sky, to the actions of the human inhabitants, to the reactions of the natural world to the wind and rain. America's heartland is somewhat unfamiliar territory in the realm of picture books, but in Thunderstorm, Geisert has provided readers with valuable, breathtaking insight into one of its most natural occurrences.
A book about weather, from the animated television series on the Learning Channel.
Rain, Hail, Sleet & Snow was first published by Nancy Larrick in 1961 and served as an introduction to elementary students about how weather conditions are formed. The book has been out of print for quite some time and modern books do not offer this age group such an approachable discussion of how inclement weather is formed and the conditions that effect it. While it does not discuss the most modern tools of meteorology, it does mention the use of airplanes, satellites, and other tools of measurement. Other topics besides rain, hail, sleet and snow that are discussed are tornadoes and hurricanes, lightning and thunder, fog, humidity, water vapor, condensation, ice crystals, and the different types of clouds.
A delightful blend of serious meteorology and beautiful illustrations, this informative book displays the many talents of Eric Sloane. A writer, landscape painter, weather forecaster, and authority on early American history, Sloane takes readers with him on a voyage of discovery as he traces a single air mass from the Canadian Rockies to northern New England. A vivid narrative and the author's own pen-and-ink sketches describe the progress of the air mass over America, and tell about its encounters with other elements of weather systems and with Americans from a variety of backgrounds.
In this eye-opening trove of outdoor clues, acclaimed natural navigator Tristan Gooley shows us how, by "reading" nature as he does, you'll not only detect what the weather is doing (and predict what's coming), you'll enter a secret wonderland of sights and sounds you've never noticed before. Discover the ways that weather can reveal a hidden world with every step you take—through the woods or down a city street.
- A turbulent sky with mismatched clouds predicts bad weather.
- Snowflakes get smaller as the temperature drops.
- Dry weather and morning frost follow a clear moon.
- Gliding birds mean stable air and thus, fair weather.
- Honeybees don't leave their hives below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Crickets chirp faster as the temperature rises.
- Pine cones close their scales in high humidity.
- Perching birds face into the wind.
- Cows don't lie down before rain, but they do head home.
Simple, kid-friendly text explains the origins of fog, clouds, frost, thunderstorms, snow, fronts, hurricanes, reinforcing the explanations with clear, well-labeled drawings and diagrams. Newly revised, this edition of Weather Words and What They Mean has been vetted by an expert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Best of all, the book features a fun list of weird weather facts!
o you know a child who is scared or feels uneasy during thunderstorms?
The Wonder of Thunder is a lighthearted children’s rhyming picture book that helps tame fears while highlighting all the wondrous things thunderstorms can do.
Children will adore Sally Storm, a lovable character who excitedly shares all the good she can do as she swirls and tumbles overhead. This early learning picture book introduces the topic of storms, thunder, lightning and rain in a fun and non-threatening way.
Colourful and captivating illustrations pull children into the story and hold their attention through to the end, where Sally shares more fun facts about thunderstorms and engages children through direct questions.
Next, look at more hands-on ideas to study weather.
Hands-on Weather Activities
Try a couple more of these fun and easy weather-in-a-bottle ideas to fill in your study with some hands-on memorable experiments.
- Weather science: How to make a cloud in a jar (2 different methods!)
- How to Make a Simple Wind Vane | Fun Wind Activities Middle School
- How to Make a Snowstorm in a Jar Experiment
- Quick Groundhog Day Unit Study and Fun Cupcake Activity for Kids
- Homemade Thermometer Science Experiment
- 5 Simple Wind Energy Activities For Kids & Fun DIY Anemometer
- Easy Layers of the Earth’s Atmosphere Activity for Kids
- Rainbow in a Jar Science Experiment
Finally, look at how to make an amazing tornado in a jar.
How To Make An Amazing Tornado In A Jar
You do not have to use a jar as large as mine, but it did make for a big impressive display for a weather unit. Just make sure that your jar doesn’t have squared off edges like some mason or pasta jars.
The smoother sides will get you a better tornado effect as it is able to swirl smoothly and more freely around the jar.
You will need:
- A round jar, not squared-off
- Water
- Dish soap
- Glitter, beads
- Vinegar
- Food coloring-optional
First, fill jar 1”-2” from the top with water.
Add a drop or two of food coloring.
Do not add much as it will make it much harder to see the tornado in action.
Squeeze in a couple of squirts of dish soap and a capful of vinegar to help cut down the suds.
If you use a very large jar like mine, you will probably want to add two.
Mixing in some glitter if you like.
This part is optional but it really helps to be able to see the tornado and how it grabs objects in the area especially for smaller children it kind of makes the concept more concrete.
If you like you can also add some beads for larger objects.
Too, on our first attempt we made it a little too dark, so we just dumped out some of the water and added some fresh water in to thin out the coloring.
Put the lid back on tightly and wipe down the jar so that it is not slippery.
Grab with both hands and swirl the jar around a lot of times in a repeated motion going in a circle like a clock.
Watch the tornado form and whip the items in the jar around, funneling down into a small point.
