Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the science behind hail storms and their formation.

Materials and Prep

• Pen and paper
• Access to the internet or books for research
• Optional: Art supplies for a creative activity

Activities

• Activity 1: Research - Use the internet or books to gather information about hail storms. Write down key facts and interesting details.
• Activity 2: Diagram - Create a labeled diagram that illustrates the formation of hail stones. Include the different stages and processes involved.
• Activity 3: Experiment - Fill a plastic bag with water and place it in the freezer. Observe what happens to the water as it freezes. Compare it to the formation of hail stones.
• Activity 4: Creative Expression - Use your art supplies to create a visual representation of a hail storm. Show the size and impact of hail stones in your artwork.

Talking Points

• Hail Formation
  • "Hail forms when updrafts in a thunderstorm carry raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere."
  • "The raindrops freeze into ice pellets as they are carried higher and higher by the updrafts."
  • "Layers of ice build up on the hailstone as it is repeatedly lifted and coated with supercooled water droplets."
  • "Eventually, the hailstone becomes too heavy for the updrafts to support, and it falls to the ground as hail."
• Hailstone Size
  • "Hailstones can vary in size, from tiny pellets to as large as a grapefruit."
  • "The size of a hailstone depends on how many times it has been carried up and coated with additional layers of ice."
  • "The stronger the updrafts, the larger the hailstones can grow."
• Hailstorm Impact
  • "Hailstorms can cause damage to crops, vehicles, and buildings."
  • "The impact of large hailstones can break windows and dent cars."
  • "Hailstorms can also pose a danger to people caught outdoors, so it's important to seek shelter during severe weather."