
Funnel Over a Field
A tornado touching down over open farmland with large outlines and plenty of sky, suitable for younger children.
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10 printable sheets · Ages 5–12 · Weather science unit
Tornadoes fascinate children, and they also worry them. This collection is drawn to sit on the right side of that line: the artwork shows the shape and structure of a tornado over open farmland, not damage or people in danger. The aim is to make a powerful weather event something a child can look at, understand and ask questions about.
The first sheet is a straightforward scene — a funnel touching down over a field, with fence posts and clouds giving a sense of scale. The second is a diagram sheet showing warm air rising and cool air sinking around a rotating storm, which pairs directly with the explanation further down this page.
Teachers often use these alongside a severe-weather unit or a home safety conversation. If you are working with younger children, colour the scene first and keep the discussion to how weather works rather than what storms destroy.
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A tornado touching down over open farmland with large outlines and plenty of sky, suitable for younger children.
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A diagram sheet with warm and cool air arrows around a rotating storm cloud, for use with a weather lesson.
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A funnel cloud touching down over flat farmland.
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The towering cloud that forms before a tornado, with plenty of shape to colour.
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A calm, non-frightening picture of a family shelter spot with a torch and supplies.
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A tornado is a rotating column of air that reaches from a thunderstorm cloud down to the ground. Most are a few hundred metres wide and last only minutes, though the strongest can last far longer and travel many kilometres.
Tornadoes usually begin when warm, moist air near the ground meets cool, dry air above it. The warm air rises quickly, and if winds at different heights are blowing at different speeds, the rising air begins to spin. When that spinning column tightens and reaches the ground, it becomes a tornado.
The safest place is the lowest floor of a sturdy building, in an interior room away from windows — a basement, bathroom or closet. Families are encouraged to agree on that spot in advance and to keep a weather radio or phone alert enabled. Practising the plan calmly is what makes it work.
Tornadoes have been recorded on every continent except Antarctica. The United States sees more than any other country, roughly 1,200 a year. Tornado strength is rated on the Enhanced Fujita scale from EF0 to EF5, based on the damage left behind rather than the wind measured directly.

A weather station with instruments used to track storms.
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A distant funnel seen across open fields and fences.
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The items in an emergency kit, drawn as a simple labelling activity.
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A calm sky clearing after a storm has passed.
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A bold, simple funnel shape for younger children.
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