TEACHING
GUIDE
TEACHING
Forces of
Nature
2nd Grade Reading Level
ISBN 978-0-8225-9202-0 Green
2
TEACHING
FORCES
OF
NATURE
Standards
Science
• Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle.
• Understands Earth’s composition and structure.
Language Arts
• Gathers and uses information for research purposes.
• Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
• Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of
informational texts.
• Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions.
• Uses the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing.
Mathematics
• Uses basic and advanced procedures while performing the processes of computation.
Geography
• Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, and other geographic tools
and technologies.
• Understands the patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth’s
surface.
Technology
• Understands the relationships among science, technology, society, and the individual.
Multiple Intelligences Utilized
• Linguistic, logical-mathematical, intrapersonal, spatial, and naturalistic
Copyright © 2008 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Student pages may be
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resale. No other part of this teaching guide may be reproduced, stored in a
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mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written
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Manufactured in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 — IG — 13 12 11 10 09 08
For a complete list of books in
the Forces of Nature series, please
visit www.lernerclassroom.com.
TEACHING
Lesson 1
Storm Sense
Purpose: Students will express feelings caused by
storms or other natural phenomena through creative
writing.
Materials
• Forces of Nature
books
• lined paper
• drawing paper
• crayons
• pencils
• chalkboard
• chalk
Objectives
• Recall personal experiences with a natural event.
• Compare personal experiences to information
gathered from a text.
• Compose a paragraph about a natural event.
• Review an original paragraph for use of descriptive
language.
• Rewrite a paragraph to add more descriptive
language.
• Illustrate a descriptive text.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Write a basic paragraph about experiencing a natural
event discussed in the Forces of Nature series.
• Enhance the paragraph by adding details using the
five senses.
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• Write the Forces of Nature titles on the board.
• Ask students which of these events they have
experienced.
• Ask students to determine which experience was the
most exciting. If they haven’t experienced any, have
them choose an event to imagine.
• Have students write paragraphs about the experience.
FORCES
OF
NATURE
Read
(teacher, students)
• Students read the Forces of Nature book about the
natural event they chose.
Model
(teacher, students)
• Read your basic paragraph example.
• Read your enhanced paragraph.
• Write the five senses on the board.
• Discuss why the second paragraph was more
interesting. Point out the sensory details.
• Explain to students that they must include
information describing four of the five senses in their
paragraphs.
Practice
(students)
• Students rewrite their first paragraph adding sensory
details.
Discuss
(small groups)
• Have students in small groups take turns reading their
revised paragraphs aloud. The students who are
listening should draw an illustration of the paragraph
based on what they hear.
Evaluate
(teacher)
• Review paragraphs for content and grammar.
Extension
(teacher)
• Explain to students that many people are frightened
by natural events because they are not sure what to
do to stay safe. Have students research safety
procedures and develop safety checklists of what to
do during specific natural events.
3
4
TEACHING
FORCES
Lesson 2
Force Finders
Purpose: Students will identify indicators of events
caused by natural forces.
Materials
• Forces of Nature
books
• Force Finder
pp. 9–10
• scissors
• glue sticks
• pencils
• crayons
Objectives
• Define predict.
• Describe the responsibilities of a weather forecaster
or storm chaser.
• Discuss information gathered from a text.
• Categorize natural events by their indicators.
• Write a list of indicators of a natural event.
• Judge whether land-based or weather-based events
are easier to predict.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Copy Force Finder pp. 9–10 for each student.
• Complete a Force Finder project as a model.
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• Define predict.
• What is a weather forecast?
• What is a storm chaser?
OF
NATURE
Read
(teacher, students)
• Read Forces of Nature books.
Discuss
(teacher, students)
• Discuss what weather forecasters and storm chasers
do.
• Discuss how these people predict where or when a
natural event will happen.
• What are the various indicators that a natural event
may occur soon?
• Talk about whether land-based events, such as
volcanoes and earthquakes, or weather-based events,
such as tornadoes and blizzards, are easier to predict.
Model
(teacher, students)
• Show students how to assemble the Force Finder
project pp. 9–10.
• Demonstrate how to fill in the information about a
natural event.
Practice
(students)
• Have students choose an event from the Forces of
Nature series.
• Students complete a Force Finders project.
• Have students share their Force Finders project with
the class or a small group.
Evaluate
(teacher)
• Review the projects for completeness and accuracy.
Extension
• Complete a Force Finders project with information
about the aftermath (the effects) of a chosen natural
event.
TEACHING
Lesson 3
Force Report
Purpose: Students will compile and present
information about a natural event.
Materials
• Forces of Nature
books
• force report pp.
11–13
• pencils
• scratch paper
• 9⫻12 construction
paper
• glue
• stapler
• chart paper
• marker
• scissors
Objectives
• Define report.
• List information about natural events.
• Compose questions about natural events to gain
more information.
• Classify information gathered from research.
• Record information gathered from research.
• Evaluate the difficulty of finding specific information.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Copy force report pp. 11–13 for each student.
• Cut the scratch paper into 7⫻3-inch rectangles.
Each student needs 10–15 pieces.
• Create a model force report.
• Gather additional research materials (books or
websites), if needed.
• Create an assessment rubric for evaluating the force
report.
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• On chart paper, create a KWL chart for each of the
Forces of Nature titles.
• Complete the K and W columns as a class.
FORCES
OF
NATURE
Read
(teacher, small groups)
• Read books from the Forces of Nature series.
Model
(teacher)
• Define report.
• Show how to complete the force report.
Step 1 Fold the construction paper like a
book.
Step 2 Glue force report p. 11 to the front
of the construction paper. Glue p. 12
to the inside on the left. Glue p. 13
to the inside on the right.
Step 3 Staple a stack of the cut scratch paper
in the box on p. 13. (Students may do
this after note-taking.)
Step 4 Write the name of the natural force
at the top of p. 12.
Step 5 Shade in the areas on the map where
the natural event occurs.
Step 6 Fill in details of some notable
occurrences of the natural event on
p. 12.
• Demonstrate how to take notes. Write one fact on
each piece of scratch paper.
• Using your notes, write a paragraph about the
natural event on p. 13.
• Inform students of project expectations by reviewing
the assessment rubric.
Practice
(students)
• Students research a natural event.
• Students complete force reports.
Discuss
(class)
• Complete the L column of the KWL chart from the
pretest.
• What information was hard to find?
• What was the most interesting fact you learned
during your research?
Evaluate
(teacher)
• Use the assessment rubric to evaluate force reports.
5
6
TEACHING
FORCES
OF
Lesson 4
Weather Watchers
Purpose: Students will identify sources of current
information about natural events around the world.
Materials
• Forces of Nature
series
• weather sections
from print media
• Internet access
• access to weather
forecasts broadcast
locally, nationally,
and/or internationally
or videotaped
segments of these
Objectives
• Recall information from Forces of Nature books.
• Explain how people can be interdependent.
• Analyze the benefits of using different media sources.
• Suggest reasons for using a variety of media sources.
• Judge the importance of monitoring natural events
in different parts of the world.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Plan accordingly, as this lesson may need to be
completed over a period of days.
• Bookmark natural phenomena forecast sites such as:
http://www.worldweather.org/,
http://www.accuweather.com,
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/,
http://www.fire.unifreiburg.de/current/globalfire.htm, and
http://www.volcano.si.edu/.
• As most forecast websites are not intended for
primary-level students, arrange for projection
equipment or possibly middle or high school-level
student helpers.
• Gather weather or other natural event forecasts
broadcasted and printed locally, nationally, and/or
internationally.
NATURE
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• Why would we want to know about weather or other
natural events occurring in different parts of the
United States? Why would we want to know about
events happening in other countries?
Read
(teacher, students)
• Read Forces of Nature books.
• Have students pay close attention to the effects of
these phenomena.
Model
(teacher)
• Exhibit and explain each of the natural phenomena
forecasts gathered for the lesson.
Practice
(student pairs or small groups)
• Students will view and listen to each of the different
types of natural event information (broadcasts,
websites, and newspaper articles).
Discuss
(class or small groups)
• How accurate are the different forecasts? How do
you know?
• Why are there so many different types of forecasts?
• Define interdependent.
• Explain how people in one country are
interdependent and how people around the world
are interdependent.
• Repeat the questions from the beginning of the
lesson. Have the students’ answers changed? Why or
why not?
Evaluate
(teacher)
• Using a class list, keep anecdotal records of the class
discussion.
TEACHING
Lesson 5
Calculating Forces
Purpose: Students will practice math facts and will
place events in order based on the months in which
they occurred.
Materials
• Forces of Nature
series
• Calculating Forces
pp. 14–16
• scissors
• glue
• pencils
Objectives
• Calculate addition and subtraction facts.
• Recall the sequence of the months of the year.
• Place events in order of their occurrence.
• Categorize events by their frequency.
• Evaluate accuracy of an answer.
• Judge quality and accuracy of one’s own work.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Copy Calculating Forces pp. 14–15 back-to-back for
each student.
• Copy Calculating Forces p. 16 for each student.
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• When do hurricanes happen in the United States? Is
there a special time of year that volcanoes erupt?
FORCES
OF
NATURE
Read
(students)
• Read Forces of Nature books.
Discuss
(teacher, students)
• What time of year do these natural events happen?
• Which events can happen year-round?
• List the months in order.
• Explain how each month can be identified by its
number order (1–12).
Model
(teacher)
• Explain the directions for Calculating Forces
pp. 14–16.
Practice
(students)
• Complete Calculating Forces pp. 14–16.
Discuss
(teacher, students)
• Explain how to check whether an answer is
reasonable.
• Have students review their work on page 15 before
submitting it.
• If students find an unreasonable answer, show them
how to work backwards through their work to fix the
incorrect answer.
• Discuss the importance of submitting quality work.
Evaluate
(teacher)
• Evaluate Calculating Forces pp. 14–16 for accuracy
and completeness.
7
8
TEACHING
FORCES
OF
Additional Resources
BOOKS
Drohan, Michele Ingber. Avalanches. New York: Rosen
Publishing Group, Inc., 2003.
Read how different types of avalanches are
caused, how they may be prevented, and how
people can protect themselves and their homes
from this type of disaster. Other titles from the
Natural Disasters series include, Earthquakes,
Floods, Forest Fires, Tsunamis: Killer Waves, and
Volcanoes.
Greenwood, Rosie. I Wonder Why Volcanoes Blow Their
Tops and Other Questions about Natural
Disasters. Boston: Kingfisher, 2004.
In a question-and-answer format, this book
explores natural disasters and other phenomena
such as twisters, blizzards, hurricanes, floods,
avalanches, landslides, volcanoes, space rocks,
waterspouts, and tsunamis.
McGuire, Bill. Natural Disasters. Boston: Kingfisher,
2007.
Readers fly around the world to observe
volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, and tsunamis up close.
Osborne, Will. Twisters and Other Terrible Storms. New
York: Random House, 2003.
Learn what causes Earth’s weather, including
tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards, in this Magic
Tree House Research Guide.
Simon, Seymour. Hurricanes. New York: HarperCollins
Publishers, 2007.
This book introduces readers to the formation
and effects of hurricanes. Forecasting and
preparedness information is also provided. Other
titles in the series include Earthquakes, Lightning,
Storms, Tornadoes, Volcanoes, and Wildfires.
Williams, Brian. Lightning. New York: Children’s Press,
2005.
The What on Earth? Wild Weather series
examines the causes and effects of various natural
occurrences. Other titles include Hurricanes,
Tornadoes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes.
NATURE
WEBSITES
BrainPOP—Natural Disasters
http://www.brainpop.com/science/
naturalhazards/naturaldisasters/
Watch animated clips about natural disasters,
including, droughts, earthquakes, hurricanes,
thunderstorms, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanoes,
and winter storms.
ChannelOne.com: Natural Disasters
http://www.channelone.com/news/specials/
disaster/
Students can investigate natural disasters through
interactive activities on this site. Many will enjoy
playing the Pick Your Own Disaster and Could You
Survive a Natural Disaster? quizzes, as well as
creating their own volcano with the Volcano Maker.
Disaster Preparedness
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/
eduinfo/colorbk.pdf
This printable coloring book teaches students
and their families about preparing for natural
emergencies.
FEMA for Kids: The Disaster Area
http://www.fema.gov/kids/dizarea.htm
Visitors to this site can learn basic information
about natural disasters, as well as how to be
prepared should a disaster hit.
Friends of Utah Avalanche Center
http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/ed-faq.htm
Read about avalanche myths and facts, and view
pictures of forecasters checking snow packs for
potential avalanches.
Life after a Fire
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/resources-natural/
wildlife/after-fire/index.htm
Visitors to this interactive site can see how
different forest life reacts after a fire.
NOAA Education
http://www.education.noaa.gov/
This site brings together links to the many
educational activities developed by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA). There are lists for teachers, students,
and general interests.
Force Finder
Directions: Cut out the rectangle on the dotted lines. On the thick solid lines, fold the flaps toward the middle. The flaps
will overlap. On the thin solid lines, fold the flaps backward so the glue box is shown. Fill in the information blanks.
Location of force
Conditions observed:
Force Finder
______________
Type of
natural force
______________
Date of force
(Name)
______________
______________
glue
Teaching Forces of Nature
glue
9
10
Force Finder
Directions: Cut out the van. Cut the van in half on the dotted line. Draw yourself in
the windshield. Glue the halves of the van to the flaps marked glue from page 9.
Teaching Forces of Nature
11
A report on
by
Teaching Forces of Nature
12
Where do
happen?
Famous
Year
Place
Teaching Forces of Nature
Details
13
Notes
Staple note paper here
(title)
Teaching Forces of Nature
14
Name
Calculating Forces
Directions: Researchers have studied natural forces for one year. Solve the math
problems below. Each answer tells you the month they studied each event. Glue the
events on page 16 to the months in which they were studied on page 15.
8
–6
10
–9
16
–4
12
–5
avalanche
blizzard
earthquake
flood
14
–9
11
–2
9
–6
10
–0
forest fire
hurricane
landslide
northern lights
12
–8
15
–9
13
–1
17
–6
thunderstorm
tornado
tsunami
volcano
Teaching Forces of Nature
15
Name
Calculating Forces
Solve the math problems on page 14 to learn when the researchers studied each
natural event. Cut out the images from page 16 and glue them on the correct monthly
calendar.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Teaching Forces of Nature
16
Calculating Forces
tsunami
earthquake
avalanche
flood
landslide
blizzard
forest fire
thunderstorm
volcano
northern lights
tornado
Teaching Forces of Nature
hurricane