Hurricanes Complete Lesson Plan - MS

Everything you need for an engaging, ready-to-teach unit on the formation, measurement, and tracking of hurricanes is included in this resource! Students will explore how oceans influence weather systems, how hurricanes form, and how scientists measure and track them. With editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments, this multiday lesson is both comprehensive and low-prep.

Through differentiated, student-led learning, your middle schoolers stay engaged while you focus on student success.

Essential Questions

• What part do oceans play in the formation of weather systems such as hurricanes?

• How are hurricanes formed, measured, and tracked?

Texas Teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS (not updated for the 2021 TEKS).

Why Teachers Love This Lesson

• Differentiated materials for students who need extra support

• Multimodal learning that keeps students engaged

• Maximum flexibility—printable and digital formats included

• Editable PowerPoints for easy customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, reading passages, and interactive notebook pages

This lesson is structured around the 5E Instructional Model (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, Evaluation), giving you a proven framework for effective instruction.

What’s Included

Engagement

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion prompts, activities, and common misconceptions

Exploration – Student-Led Station Lab
Nine differentiated stations help students investigate hurricanes from multiple angles:

Input Stations

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension checks

• Research It! – Website-based tasks with guided questions

• Watch It! – Short video with reflection prompts

Output Stations

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts

• Write It! – Open-ended short-answer responses

• Illustrate It! – Student-created sketches or diagrams

• Assess It! – Task cards + vocabulary-in-context writing activity

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Fun extension activities like crosswords, games, and mini-projects for early finishers

Explanation

• Editable PowerPoints (standard & interactive versions)

• Interactive notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking templates

Elaboration

• Student-choice projects on hurricanes to extend learning in class or at home

Evaluation

• STAAR 2.0–style assessments (standard & modified versions)

• Review worksheet for class discussion, homework, or test practice

Flexible for Any Classroom

This lesson works seamlessly for both in-person and virtual learning. Station labs, interactive notebooks, and presentations are fully compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.