Lightning is the flash of light that occurs when electricity moves between clouds or between a cloud and the ground.

A lightning bolt that flashes in the sky can reach a temperature of 60,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That is about five times hotter than the sun! The heat from lightning causes the surrounding air to expand, resulting in the loud sound known as thunder.

What evidence can you find that explains how thunder is created??

Every day after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag. On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up the stairs to the shower.

Based on the text, how do you know Paul works in construction?

Crack! Thunder struck and rain poured. Max stared blankly out the window, trying to contain his emotions. He was beginning to lose it. Dropping the kite from his hand, Max broke out into full sob. His mother comforted him, "There, there, Max. We'll just find something else to do." She began to unpack the picnic basket that was on the counter and offered him a snack. Max snapped, "I don't want a snack!" A flash from the sky lit up the living room. Boom! Mom sighed.

Can you explain why Max is upset in this passage?

Crack! Thunder struck and rain poured. Max stared blankly out the window, trying to contain his emotions. He was beginning to lose it. Dropping the kite from his hand, Max broke out into full sob. His mother comforted him, "There, there, Max. We'll just find something else to do." She began to unpack the picnic basket that was on the counter and offered him a snack. Max snapped, "I don't want a snack!" A flash from the sky lit up the living room. Boom! Mom sighed.

What line in the text tells you that Max is upset it is raining?

Tim looked out the window. The house looked so lonely. Tim's father put the last suitcase in the trunk and started up the car. Thor, his dog, put his head on Tim's lap, like he understood how Tim was feeling. "It's okay Thor," he said, "Dad says we will like California."

How would you describe what is happening in this passage?

“Tommy!” Mom called out as she walked in the front door. “Tommy,” she continued shouting, “I sure could use some help with these groceries. There was still no reply. Mom walked into the kitchen to put the grocery bags down on the counter when she noticed shattered glass from the window all over the living room floor and a baseball not far from there. “I’m so mad Tommy!” Mom yelled to herself as she realized that Tommy’s shoes were gone.

What details can you find in the text that shows that the window was broken?

Did you know that tornadoes come from thunderstorms? Thunderclouds build up when cool, dry air runs into warm, wet air. If enough cool air runs into warm air, clouds can start to gain energy and power. A tornado can result from this energy. A tornado is a spinning column created by the thunderstorm’s strong winds. The winds are so strong that they can pick up water, dust, and scraps. A tornado can spin over 200 miles per hour, which means that it has a lot of force.

How do clouds gain enough energy to create a tornado?

You may be surprised to hear that earthquakes are not rare. In fact, earthquakes happen every day somewhere in the world. Most of them are weak. There are times, however, when an earthquake is very powerful and causes a lot of damage. One strong earthquake can destroy houses, bridges, railroad tracks, and more.

Can you describe why earthquakes are so dangerous?

On a spring night in 2007, disaster struck a small town in Kansas. Winds were estimated to be more than 200 miles per hour. In less than ten minutes, the town was destroyed. Ten people lost their lives.

When the storm had passed, people climbed out from their basement through the rubble. Cars and trucks had been thrown about. Homes were crushed, or simply ripped from the ground. There’s really nothing left,” said one resident.

Describe what happened to the small town using text evidence to prove your answer.