Hurricane Education: Grades 5-8

5 Web Sites Where Middle School Students Can Learn About Hurricanes and Hurricane Season

Here are 5 useful resources where kids can learn about hurricanes and hurricane season. These free, educational web sites also include hurricane photos, information about the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history, and facts about hurricanes themselves.

For parents and educators, a number of these web sites about hurricanes also include lesson plans and classroom or homeschooling activities.

As a former editor and project leader for an online database of web sites for students, I use strict criteria when selecting educational and non-commercial web sites for students Pre-K through grade 8. This criteria is similar to the method used to evaluate free math games online.

The sites included here are the least commercial, and include real information and facts from reputable and trustworthy sources.

5 Web Sites Where Kids Can Find Out About Hurricanes and Hurricane Season

1. Hurricane Features
Web Site Address: http://www.comet.ucar.edu/nsflab/web/hurricane/
Source: Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training
Commercial Aspect: Non-commercial.
Age Group: Older Middle School, and up

Hurricane Features is a fact-filled web site which defines a hurricane and their origins. The web site also details winds, storm surges, and the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale.

Kids can also learn all about the structure of the hurricane, not just the "eye." Also find out about the eye wall, spiral bands, and winds. There is also information about how hurricanes are tracked.

2. Canadian Hurricane Centre - Just for Kids
Web Site Address: http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/kids.html
Source: Canadian Hurricane Centre - Just for Kids
Commercial Aspect: Non-commercial.
Age Group: Could be used by older elementary school students, as well as middle school students.

Hurricane Harry takes kids on a tour of hurricanes. Find out how hurricanes form. There is also a satellite image of a hurricane, and an at-home activity for forming your own hurricane eye in the bathtub.