EngineeringWeather and Natural Disasters

Tornado Shelters

Challenge students to become engineers as they learn about tornadoes and design shelters to protect a figurine from powerful storms.

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Grades 3–5Grade level
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Open-endedMany right answers

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About this lesson

Challenge students to become engineers as they learn about tornadoes and design shelters to protect a figurine from powerful storms. In this engaging lesson, learners explore how tornadoes form and investigate real-world engineering solutions for storm safety. Students test their ideas by building shelters and using a blow dryer to simulate tornado winds—making science, problem solving, and interactive testing come alive in an unforgettable classroom activity!

Introduce the challenge

Design & build

Test it

Improve & share