Extreme Weather
Discover the dynamic and complex forces shaping our planet—and the surprising connections that help us understand and adapt to our ever-changing weather.

Activities
Climate Change and Rising Seas
Students identify the difference between global warming and climate change. They learn what causes global rise in sea level, and they test predictions about sea level rise through a hands-on experiment.
Measuring Weather
Students use prior knowledge to brainstorm instruments scientists use to measure weather. They play a game to match illustrations of instruments that measure weather with descriptions of each instrument, and then use a photo gallery to check their answers. Students analyze the instruments based on how valuable they would be for measuring weather on other planets, or what modifications they may need to handle extreme weather.
Measuring Weather with Tools
Students use prior knowledge to brainstorm instruments scientists use to measure weather. They use a photo gallery to identify what weather conditions each instrument measures. Then students play a game to match illustrations of instruments that measure weather with descriptions of each instrument.
Extreme Weather on Our Planet
Students use prior knowledge, a photo gallery, and a video to discuss what they already know about extreme weather on Earth and brainstorm a list of weather-related words. Then they organize the information they learned about weather events and conditions present for each type of weather event, and compare and contrast weather events and conditions.
Extreme Weather on Earth
Students use prior knowledge, a photo gallery, and a video to discuss what they already know about extreme weather on Earth and brainstorm and categorize a list of weather-related words and phrases. Then they identify the necessary conditions for weather events to occur, and the factors that affect extreme weather. Students organize information about weather events and conditions, identify patterns, and make connections between weather and climate.
Film Clips
Extreme Weather: Sea Level Rise
This video shows how scientific instruments are being used to gather and record the temperature and salt density at different depths in order to calculate the rate of melting of ice above and below the water’s surface. This gives scientists clues as to how much sea level is rising.
Extreme Weather: Climate Feedback Loops
See how the ash from drought-sparked forest fires contributes to increased melting of ice and snow, thus creating a feedback loop that pushes the climate system in a warming direction.
Extreme Weather: Droughts
Look at the causes and effects of the droughts that have plagued the western United States for years. Understand the conditions that have led to increased numbers of forest fires year round and learn how the heat from these firestorms creates its own weather system, forming giant cloud structures called pyrocumulus.
Extreme Weather: Interconnections in Extreme Weather
Discover the ways in which air and water interact in a vast complex system. This video clip illustrates the interconnections between rising sea levels, forest fires, droughts, heat waves, typhoons, powerful storms, and flooding.
About Climate Change
Encyclopedia: Climate Change
This article provides a comprehensive overview of climate change—evidence and causes—with photographs and links to additional resources.
Collection: Climate Change
Find a collection of educational resources related to climate change and global warming.
Climate Change
Here’s what you need to know about the warming planet, how it’s affecting us, and what’s at stake.
About Weather
Collection: Weather
This collection contains a selection of content from NG Education about weather.
Encyclopedia: Weather
This article gives a comprehensive definition of weather.
Create a Weather Map
This lesson plan engages students in drawing pictures that symbolize different types of weather and then use information about today's weather to make their own state weather map.
Tornado — Nat Geo Kids
Learn how tornadoes from in this article from National Geographic Kids.
Tornadoes
Explore a variety of resources—videos, interactives, and articles—about tornadoes.
About Sea Level Rise
Photos Show Changes in Glacial Ice
Explore photographs that provide evidence of the melting of glacial ice.
Sea Level Rise
This article discusses the causes and effects of sea level rise.
About Forest Fires
Fire Bombers
Travel with Wild Chronicles to Lancaster, California, to meet a special breed of firefighter that takes to the skies.
Video: Fighting Wildfires
Join National Geographic photographer Mark Thiessen on the front line of one of nature’s fiercest forces.
Challenge: Extreme Weather

Extreme Weather Poster
Use this poster to help students understand concepts in extreme weather.
Funder
