Appropriate grades or age groups:
Grades 3-8

Estimated time to complete project or implement technique:
1 hour

Materials needed (if applicable):
water
two 2-liter bottles
cardboard
knife
duct tape
logbook and pencil

Project instructions or description of technique:
1) Observing weather patterns is a very fun thing to do. One interesting phenomenon in nature is a tornado, this project is so simple to do!

2) Research what a tornado is, where they occur, how they begin.

3) Pour water into a two liter plastic bottle until it is about three-quarters full.

4) Cut a circle of cardboard as big around as the bottle? opening.

5) Cut a 1/4 inch hole in the center.

6) Place cardboard circle on top of your water bottle opening.

7) Turn another 2-liter bottle upside down and tape the two bottles together, top to top.

8) Wrap the bottle necks with tape so the connection doesn? leak.

9) Now turn bottles upside down with full bottle on top.

10) Hold bottle steady with one hand.

11) Use other hand to slowly move the top bottle in a circle.

12) Observe and record your findings.

13) As you do the experiment, you can visually see the spiraling water twist and rotate just like the wind does in a real tornado!