SciJinks: What causes a thunderstorm?

Jump to this Video »

SciJinks: What causes a thunderstorm?
https://scijinks.gov/thunderstorms-video/

SciJinks, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This short video demonstrates what causes a thunderstorm.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

See how this Video supports the Next Generation Science Standards»

Grade Level

Intermediate (3-5)
Find more resources at this grade level.

Online Readiness

Online Ready
See more.

Topics

Atmospheric Circulation
Find more resources on this topic.

Water Cycle
Find more resources on this topic.

Climate System
Find more resources on this topic.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

The printable poster can be used for students and instructors to refer back to after watching the video.
The resource would be a useful visual for a unit on weather.

About the Content

All thunderstorms need the same ingredients: moisture, unstable air and lift.
Moisture usually comes from oceans.
Unstable air forms when warm, moist air is near the ground and cold, dry air is above.
Lift comes from differences in air density. It pushes unstable air upward, creating a tall thunderstorm cloud.
Note that there is a misconception that evaporation only happens over the ocean. It also happens over other bodies of water and saturated land.
Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

Simple, clear graphics create an animation that is easy to understand, and repetitive enough for students to grasp the concept.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

Animation is easy to use.
Lesson includes a poster download in two size options.

Entered the Collection: March 2023 Last Reviewed: March 2022

Jump to this Video »

Whenever I run professional development for science teachers about climate change, I share the CLEAN network's set of vetted resources.

-Director of Science Teaching Institute

CLEAN is an exceptional collection of well vetted resources. Our group, Classrooms for Climate Action, incorporates resources from CLEAN when we co-create our units with teachers.

-Elementary Educator

As a science education researcher working closely with preservice teachers, public school teachers and instructors in both formal and non-formal educational contexts I consistently recommend CLEAN as a reliable resource. I wish every educator were required to use and become familiar with this amazing resource.

-Science Education Researcher

I use it as a resource when planning professional development for teachers--both in service and pre service; as well as for instructors in non-formal programs. I wish every educator were required to use and become familiar with this amazing resource.

This collection of CLEAN resources is always a first stop when I am looking for a resource to use in education and outreach, and the place I look first before I develop something new!

-Climate Scientist

I appreciate how you've linked climate and energy education to NGSS, and have provided good searching tools - a valuable resource for teachers!

-NOAA Planet Stewards Educator

I've started to use CLEAN as my go-to source for not just lab activities, but also to help me organize and align to NGSS standards. I'm finding the structures really helpful to building my long term plans.

-K-12 Teacher

CLEAN materials were extremely helpful, primarily in guiding my approach for high school students. I trusted both the pedagogical approach and the suggested materials. It’s refreshing to have a clearinghouse of information that I can trust, especially in a pinch.

-Environmental Scientist

We are so grateful to CLEAN, which allows us to make a single recommendation of where to go for the best and most comprehensive resource collection.

-CLEAN Network Member

As a busy classroom educator who teaches topics that are in constant need of updating, it is so awesome to have one place to go to find innovative instructional materials! I know the materials are vetted, and connected to the NGSS, which relieves some of burden when designing new lessons.

-Secondary Educator

CLEAN's collection of peer-reviewed lessons and resources is truly the best one-stop-shop for climate education!

-Teacher Professional Development Provider

NAGT

NSF

About

Reuse

Citing and Terms of Use

Material on this page is offered under a Creative Commons license unless otherwise noted below.

Show terms of use for text on this page »

Page Text

Show terms of use for media on this page »

More information on terms of use

Short URL: http://cleanet.org/resources/58707.html
What's This?

CLEAN is funded by grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and NASA.