Teach children when to recognize that a tornado may be approaching. Tornadoes generally occur during strong thunderstorms. When there is a possibility of tornadoes coming to an area, an alert is sent out and sometimes a siren goes off. You can also see tornadoes from a distance. By creating the tornado in a bottle craft, children will become aware of what a tornado looks like and how to know if one is approaching.
Tornadoes in a bottle crafts teach about the types of tornadoes. A few tornadoes are supercell tornadoes, which come from thunderstorms that linger and are formed by air that flows up. The cloud is low and is shaped like a layer cake. The landspout tornado is formed on dry land and from the front of a thunderstorm. The waterspout is a tornado formed on a body of warm water and isn't as destructive as a supercell tornado. The tornado in a bottle craft can also teach about the twin tornadoes, which is where one tornado splits in two.
Tornadoes are formed from either serious storm weather or over water. It is important for kids to know how tornadoes are formed so that when the weather conditions are right for a tornado they will be aware ahead of time. Discuss with children how the clouds and the sky look when tornadoes may form and also discuss the tornado season, which is the spring months of March, April and May.
Seeking shelter during a tornado is important for safety and survival. Teach children to go to the lowest level of their home or school and a place that is far from windows.
Fill a 2-liter soda bottle three-quarters the way full. Cut a piece of cardboard the size of the bottle opening. Cut a hole in the middle of the cardboard, 1/4-inch thick. Place the cardboard on top of the bottle opening. Place another soda bottle on top of the first with the cardboard piece between them. The open part of the bottles should be open. Wrap a strong tape around the bottle openings so that they don't fall or leak. Flip the bottle that has the water in it so that it now sits on top. Shake the bottle in a circular motion and watch the tornado form.