Tornado In A Jar Activity

Objective: To teach kids aged 5-10 about tornados through a hands-on and visually engaging activity.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Clear plastic or glass jar with a lid
• Water
• Dish soap (a small amount)
• Glitter or small beads (to represent debris)
• Food coloring (optional, for visual effect)
• Small plastic or foam figures (optional, for added fun)
• Permanent marker
• Safety goggles (for adult supervision)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Safety First: Ensure adult supervision throughout the activity. Safety goggles should be worn when handling the materials.

JAR SETUP:

1. Using a permanent marker, label the jar with the word “Tornado Jar” and draw a simple tornado symbol.
2. Fill the jar about two-thirds full with water.

ADD EFFECTS:

1. Add a small amount of dish soap to the water. This will help create a vortex by reducing surface tension.
2. Optionally, add a few drops of food coloring to the water to make the tornado more visible.
3. Drop in some glitter or small beads to represent debris that can get caught up in a real tornado.

CREATE A TORNADO!

1. Close the lid of the jar tightly.
2. Hold the jar with both hands and gently swirl the water in a circular motion for a few seconds to create a water vortex.

OBSERVE AND EXPLAIN: 

1. As the water swirls, it forms a mini tornado inside the jar, just like how a tornado forms in the atmosphere.
2. Explain to the kids that in a real tornado, the warm, moist air interacts with the cooler, drier air to create a rotating column of air.

DISCUSSION POST:

1. Discuss how tornadoes can vary in size and intensity.
2. Talk about safety measures during tornadoes, such as seeking shelter in a sturdy building’s basement or interior room.

PLAY AND EXPERIMENT: 

1. Let the kids take turns swirling the jar to see the tornado formation.
2. Encourage them to experiment with different swirling speeds and directions to observe how it affects the tornado’s formation.

EXTEND THE ACTIVITY

1. For added fun, provide small plastic or foam figures and let the kids imagine scenarios where the figures get caught in the tornado.

This tornado in a jar activity engages kids’ senses and provides a simple yet effective way to introduce the concept of tornadoes. It offers both entertainment and education, making learning about severe weather phenomena an enjoyable experience.