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Thunder & Lightning

CONCEPTUAL
Science›Weather & Climate|Ages 7—9|ID: mt_BO_AHGLCk0

Know that thunder and lightning happen during thunderstorms: lightning is a giant spark of electricity that forms in clouds, thunder is the sound the lightning makes, and we see lightning before hearing thunder because light travels faster than sound

Mastery Evidence

  • Describe lightning as a large electrical discharge in clouds
  • Explain that thunder is the sound caused by lightning
  • State that we see lightning before hearing thunder because light travels faster than sound

Assessment Prompt

“During a thunderstorm, can [child] explain that lightning is electricity in the clouds, thunder is its sound, and that we see the flash before the boom because light is faster than sound?”

Prerequisites2

Show full prerequisite tree
  • Storm Safety hard

    Thunder/lightning science builds on basic storm safety awareness

  • Cloud Types hard

    Lightning forms in clouds; requires understanding cloud formation

    • Rain & Puddles hard

      Cloud types build on knowing rain comes from clouds

      • Types of Weather soft

        Rain concept benefits from knowing rain as a weather type

Unlocks1