Because tornadoes turn and twist as they move, they’re sometimes called twisters. The new movie, Twisters, sparks curiosity about these extreme weather events and a desire to learn about tornadoes.
I enjoyed the original Twister when it came out in 1996 so it was a joy to see the just-released Twisters with my teenage son. Twisters is a stand-alone action-adventure movie full of science, technology, engineering, and math. The movie centers around Kate Carter (Daisy Edward-Jones), a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years.
Kate has moved to New York City where she studies storm patterns safely from a screen in her office until she’s lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Anthony Ramos) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. There, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charming and reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures with his raucous crew, the more dangerous the better. Though Kate, Javi, and Tyler have different motivations, we see them come together to predict, and possibly tame, the immense power of tornadoes. Twisters is rated PG-13 for intense action and peril, some language and injury images.
I loved the action in Twisters along with the STEM involved in trying to understand how tornadoes behave, predicting their path, intensity, and if it’s possible to weaken them to the point where they’re less destructive.
There are great examples of STEM throughout Twisters that inspire kids to learn about tornadoes. We see the science of meteorology and weather forecasting at work. We watch Kate and her team use mathematical models and new technology like sensors and drones to understand the shape and path. There’s no shortage of engineering and trying to figure out how to deploy strategies that Kate hopes will weaken the tornado to help save property and lives.
If Twisters has made your child curious to learn about tornadoes, or they’re simply intrigued by these extreme weather events, these age-appropriate resources will answer questions to deepen their understanding.
How to Learn More About Tornadoes After Seeing Twisters
Find the Answer to “What is a tornado?“
Learn Where the Most Intense Tornadoes Occur
NatGeo’s Tornadoes 101 is a 5 minute YouTube video that teaches how tornadoes form, how they are rated, and the country where the most intense tornadoes occur.
Learn Tornado Vocabulary
Wall clouds, waterspouts, microbursts, mesocyclones, supercell thunderstorms, gustnados? This tornado article on WeatherWizKids.com explains some important tornado related terminology and important facts. Also scroll down to also find this chart that explains the Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity.
Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity from WeatherWizKids.com
See how Math, Physics, and Computer Science Help Us Learn About Tornadoes
This video helps explain tornadogenesis using the fastest computers in the world and features Dr. Leigh Orf who shares the capabilities of the Blue Waters Super Computer at the University of Illinois.
Understand the Difference Between a Tornado Watch and Warning
This article on the Ready Kids section of Ready.gov helps answer those questions and features what to do before, during, and after tornadoes to help you stay safe.
Make a Tornado in a Bottle
All you need is a vortex bottle connector (available on Amazon) and two 2 liter bottles, and these instructions from Weather WizKids. Or you can watch this Tornado in a Bottle how-to video from Questacon.
Take a Class About Tornadoes
Outschool has a variety of online classes that teach about tornadoes. There are single classes and classes that meet at the same time for multiple weeks. Classes start at $10 making them highly affordable.
Get an Inside Look at Twisters
If the magic of movie making is of interest, get a behind the scenes look at the making of Twisters in Oklahoma. This short clip features commentary from Director Lee Isaac Chun and stars Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos,
My family and I were invited to a press screening of Twisters. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received for this post. Affiliate links are included in this post.
