Write a lecture that provides students with thorough background information on hurricanes. Include definitions of technical weather terms, as well as parameters that are used to assign categories to hurricanes. By the end of the lecture, students should understand the various atmospheric conditions that create and drive hurricanes, as well as the basic behavior of hurricanes such as rotation and eye formation. Also, explain the various functions of satellite and weather maps that students will use later in the lesson plan.
Let students observe animated weather maps that depict the formation of a past hurricane. Explain how the atmospheric conditions discussed in the background lecture are present at the start of the information by pointing out aspects such as pressure fronts and jet streams on the weather map. Describe how these initial conditions ultimately decide the intensity and physical characteristics of the hurricane.
Once students fully understand the formation of hurricanes, have them observe animated maps that track the movement of multiple hurricanes. These maps should include various weather symbols such as for pressure fronts, as this allows students to observe the causes for the path of the hurricane. After students have studied multiple weather maps, choose a new map and have students predict the path of the hurricane by applying the knowledge of weather conditions that they have learned thus far.
Have students track the motion of a hurricane relative to the storm intensity. If students are advanced enough, you can also incorporate knowledge in geography by having them plot the hurricane path in points longitude and latitude. Students will observe a weather map that tracks the intensity of the hurricane throughout its life. Then, supply students with additional weather maps that depict the external conditions for hurricanes. Students will then use their knowledge of hurricanes to predict the intensity of the storm at various future points relative to the atmospheric conditions presented on the map.