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Thunderstorm Art

Students will learn about the science behind thunderstorms and create art depicting this weather phenomenon.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Thunderstorms are strong, short-lived weather phenomena that are almost always associated with lightning, thunder, heavy rain or hail, and strong winds. Have students investigate how these storms arise. What kind of clouds are involved? What happens to the warm, moist air that rises quickly to meet cooler air? Where does the lightning originate, and how does it create thunder? 

  • Step 2

    Ask students to create a piece of art that depicts a thunderstorm. Oil Pastels blend easily and can be layered for shading techniques or spread from the edges to give a textured appearance to clouds. But if oil pastels are not available, students could use crayons or watercolor pencils to create thunderstorm scenes.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their art and discuss the science and characteristics they learned about thunderstorms.

Standards

SCI: Ask questions about the features of phenomena observed and conclusions drawn from investigations or models. 

SCI: Explore similarities and differences in patterns and use them to sort, classify, communicate, and analyze natural phenomena and change. 

Adaptations

Some thunderstorms are severe enough to cause tornadoes. Have students investigate these phenomena, also known as "twisters." Where and when do they usually occur? How are they produced? What safety precautions are taken before and during a tornado?

Have students look at some examples of famous art that depicts storms, such as "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee" (1633) by Rembrandt van Rijn, "Tiger in a Tropical Storm" (1891) by Henri Rousseau, or the first photograph taken of lightning in 1882 by photographer William. N. Jennings. They can then create scenes inspired by these images.