Hurricane Anatomy

Show students what a hurricane is really made of with this scaffolded labeling worksheet for grades 6-8. A clear cross-section diagram lets students label the four key parts of a hurricane: the eye, the eyewall, the rain bands, and the storm surge.

The worksheet builds understanding in three steps. First, students label the diagram using a word bank. Next, they match each part to what it does, reinforcing the vocabulary right away. Finally, a short real-world scenario asks them to think like a meteorologist and explain why the calm eye is not the end of the storm, directly targeting a common and dangerous misconception about hurricane safety.

What's included: a one-to-two page student worksheet, a labeled hurricane cross-section diagram, a vocabulary word bank, and a complete answer key.

Skills covered: hurricane structure and anatomy, storm surge, weather vocabulary, diagram labeling, and safety reasoning. Aligned to NGSS MS-ESS3-2. Just print and teach, or drop it into a station rotation or sub-plan. An ideal addition to any severe weather, natural hazards, or meteorology unit for middle school science.