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Website
Other

Kidstorm: Lightning

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about lightning formation and lightning safety with this detailed webpage.
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Website
Dan Satterfield

Dan's Wild Weather Page: Lightning

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn facts and statistics about the weather phenomenon of lightning. This illustrated article also includes a lightning experiment and safety tips.
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Website
Other

K 3 Learning Pages: Web Resources Thunderstorms

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Check out this comprehensive list of web resources on thunderstorms and safety. Students and teachers will benefit from the links found on this site.
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Website
Other

Physics.org: Lightning Has Energy to Toast 100,000 Slices of Bread

For Students 9th - 10th
A beginner's guide to understanding what causes lightning in a thunderstorm. Highlights the major ideas while giving fun, interesting facts.
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Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Thunder and Lightning

For Students 3rd - 8th
Lightning is the most spectacular element of a thunderstorm. Learn how lightning forms, and how lightning leads to thunder.
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Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Looking at Lightning

For Students 3rd - 8th
An introduction to the science behind lightning, its causes, and effects. If you follow links, there are also pages on the medical risks associated with getting struck by lightning.
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Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Thunderstorms

For Students 3rd - 8th
Informational weather site provides users with an abundance of weather information. Discover what thunderstorms are, where they occur the most frequently and the damage they can cause.
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Graphic
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Nova Science Now Lightning: Lightning Varieties

For Students 9th - 10th
Compare and contrast different types of lightning bolts. A substantial amount of information is provided here including pictures with descriptions for each type of lightning bolt. NOTE: The interactive is no longer available; Click on...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Thunderstorms

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How thunderstorms form and their effects.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Thunderstorms

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How thunderstorms form and their effects.
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Handout
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Thunderstorm Safety

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn the safety guidelines for lighting and thunderstorms.
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Article
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Thunderstorms

For Students 9th - 10th
Right now there are about two thousand thunderstorms going on around the world. While common, they can be dramatic with intense rain, hail, wind, lightning, thunder, and even tornadoes.
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Unit Plan
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Learning Zone

For Students 3rd - 8th
This comprehensive, interactive site is loaded with information, activities, and stories about thunderstorms, lightning, and tornadoes. Find out how these weather systems are formed, how they impact our lives, and how they cause chaos.
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Website
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: How Lightning Forms

For Students 3rd - 8th
Weather site for kids provides information as to how lightning impacts our lives. Discover lightning safety tips, how to tell how far away a storm is, how lightning forms as well as read an amazing story about ball lightning.
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Website
Curated OER

Weather Dude: Thunder and Lightning

For Students 9th - 10th
Weather site highlights the severe weather occurrences of thunder and lightning. Click on the link to hear a music clip.
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Interactive
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Light on Lightning! Danger!

For Students 9th - 10th
Experience the acoustical shadow caused by a lightning bolt, and discover the dangers of a lightning storm.
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Most Lightning Struck Place on Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
Lake Maracaibo is the stormiest place on the planet. Thunderstorms rage above this massive body of water for up to 200 days of the year, with each ear-splitting event lasting for several hours. Graeme Anderson lists the factors that...
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Unknown Type
NOAA

Noaa: Thunderstorms

For Students 9th - 10th
Do you know what to do if you're caught in a thunderstorm? This short online quiz will assess how well prepared you really are.
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Website
Weather Wiz Kids

Weather Wiz Kids: Thunderstorms

For Students Pre-K - 1st
From thunder and lightning to watches and warnings, this comprehensive website provides detailed information about thunderstorms. You can even perform your own experiments!
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Website
Other

Nlsi: Lightning's Social and Economic Costs

For Students 9th - 10th
Scholarly article which discusses the cost of lightning and thunderstorms. Provides information about the economic cost and a personal cost, as well as discusses what one can do to prevent or limit the costs of lightning.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Weather Alert

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students discuss the characteristics of storms, including the relationship of weather fronts and storms. Using simple materials, the students develop a model of a simple lightning detection system and analyze their model to determine its...
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Activity
NOAA

Noaa: Owlie Skywarns Weather Book [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
Download and print this free activity book about hurricanes, tornadoes, lightening, floods and winter storms. A quiz section is also included.
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Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Lightning

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This activity will demonstrate the attraction of positive and negative charges and what happens when those opposite charges meet each other.
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Interactive
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Ucar: Kids Crossing: Look Out for Dangerous Weather

For Students 1st - 5th
Explore dangerous weather events like tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and blizzards through stories, activities, and safety tips.