Spinning storms: it is hurricane season.

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Storm Season

A hurricane is a big storm.

Hurricane season is here! The season lasts from June to November. A hurricane is a storm that brings heavy rain and strong winds. It can harm trees and homes.

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A hurricane begins over warm ocean water. Winds make the storm spin around and around. The center of the storm is called the eye. It is calm there.

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Hurricanes often hit places near coast. A coast is land next to ocean. A hurricane can cause big ean waves. The waves are called a surge. That can cause flooding.

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People Can Stay Safe

Follow these tips to stay safe during a hurricane.

* Stay indoors. Don't go near windows.

* Check weather reports.

* Make sure you have water and food to last three days.

THINK ABOUT IT! What other things might you need to do to stay safe during a hurricane? Why?

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How can you get ready for a hurricane? You can pack a safety kit with water, a radio, flashlight, batteries, blankets, and food.

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Back and Better Than Ever!

A big hurricane hit the United States in 2005. It was called Hurricane Katrina. That hurricane caused a lot of damage to homes and schools in New Orleans, a city in Louisiana.

A new school is opening in New Orleans this fall. It is Langston Hughes Academy Charter School.

John Alford is in charge of the company that is managing the school. "It is the first new public school in New Orleans since the storm, he says. "We are going to be better than we were before the storm!"

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John Alford and students in New Orleans are excited about the opening of a new school.

THINK ABOUT IT! Why might students be excited about their new school?

NAME: --

Watch a Hurricane Form

USING A DIAGRAM

The three pictures show how a hurricane forms. Read the sentences below to learn more. Then fill in the circle for the best answer to each question.

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[1] First, small storms begin over an ocean.

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[2] Then, strong winds make the storms spin around and come together.

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[3] Soon, a hurricane forms. It spins around and around. Some hurricanes move over land. They bring heavy rain and strong winds.

1. Where do hurricanes begin?

(A) on land (B) over oceans

2. What makes storms spin around and come together?

(A) strong winds (B) heavy rain

3. What do the green parts of the pictures show?

(A) land (B) a storm

4. What does the third picture show?

(A) a hurricane moving over land (B) small storms over an ocean

WHISKERS'S[TM] CITIZENSHIP

Dear Kids,

A hurricane might hit my town today. I'm afraid. What can I do to stag safe?

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LAST LAUGH

Q: What did one hurricane say to the other?

A: Let's go for a spin!

WORD POWER

Homophones are words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. Circle the correct homophone.

1. The -- of a hurricane is calm.

I       eye

2. A coast is land next -- an ocean.

too     to

3. People can prepare -- a storm.

for     four

4. Hurricane season is --.

here    hear

Goal: Students will gain an understanding of hurricanes. They will see how hurricanes can be harmful and how people can stay safe in a hurricane.

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Objective: Students will identify what happens when a hurricane hits land and describe the safety precautions to take in preparation for such a storm. Students will also demonstrate that they can use a diagram to gain information.

Before Reading

Critical Thinking: Ask students to think about the local weather. Ask: What kinds of weather do we have here? How do you stay safe during bad weather?

Background Information

* The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30.

* A hurricane can be 200 to 300 miles across. The eye of a hurricane can be 20 miles wide.

* Storm clouds circle around the eye of the storm. The place where the storm clouds meet the eye is called the eye wall. The strongest winds and heaviest rains are usually found near the eye wall.

* In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit states along the Gulf of Mexico. Experts say it was the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history.

During Reading

Critical Thinking: Point out the photo of the girl listening to the radio. Ask: Why is it important to listen to weather reports?

After Reading

Critical Thinking: Tell students that scientists study when a hurricane is coming. Ask: How can that help keep people safe?

Science Extension: Create a weather calendar to track the weather for one week. Draw and cut out symbols for various kinds of weather: sun, rain, wind, clouds, and so on. Each day, ask students to be weather reporters. Ask them to observe the weather, report the findings, and tape the appropriate symbol on the chart. At the end of the week, ask: What kind of weather did we have? Do you see a pattern? what can you predict about the weather for tomorrow?

Adaptation: Create a word wall of weather-related words (rain, lightning, snow, fog, hurricane, and so on) and pictures to accompany each word. Help students write simple picture sentences, such as "(Raindrops) go drip drop."

Answer Key

Student Edition: Watch a Hurricane Form

1. B, 2. A, 3. A, 4. A

Word Power: 1. eye, 2. to, 3. for, 4. here

Teacher's Guide: What Do You Know About Hurricanes?

1. A, 2. B, 3. A, 4. B, 5. B, Try This! Answers may include: Stay indoors. Don't go near windows Check weather reports. Have food and water to last three days.