Studying the science of tornadoes? Make a tornado in a bottle to demonstrate how vortexes are formed in tornadoes. The activity should be used as a way to demonstrate what pupils already know about tornadoes. 

Concepts

tornadoes, tornado alley

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Add glitter or vegetable oil to the bottle for an added look to the tornadoes
• Ask parents to donate clean plastic liter bottles for kids to use
• Tornado Tubes work best rather than wasters and tape. Have class members purchase these outside of class, buy them yourself, or ask parent volunteers to donate some to the class
• Research appropriate videos and pictures of tornadoes that demonstrate the formation of a tornado vortex

Classroom Considerations

• Model how to create a tornado in a bottle as well as how to mimic the vortex motion in the bottle
• The washer and tape method does not avoid messes and spills
• If using food coloring, ensure areas being used are easy to clean up and will not stain
• Works best as a supplemental activity during a weather or hazardous weather unit

Pros

• Hands-on and fun for pupils to discover how tornadoes create vortexes
• Can be done in school or at home

Cons

• The chosen method for attaching the two bottles together is not the most efficient way of making tornadoes in a bottle