Thunderstorms are large, strong storms that usually include thunder and lightning. They are extremely common in New Hampshire on hot days during the summer. Although thunderstorms can be extremely dangerous, they provide a great opportunity to explore meteorology, ecology, physics, and chemistry with children.
Here are some tips from thunderstorm safety tips from FEMA
If you are indoors stay inside until the storm passes.
Don’t use the phone. Telephone lines conduct electricity
Don’t take a shower. Water can also carry an electric charge if lightning strikes near your home.
If you are outdoors try to get to a safe shelter quickly. Move away from tall things like trees, towers, fences, and electrical lines. They can attract lightning.
If you are stuck outside and surrounded by trees, try to take shelter by the shorter trees.
If you are outside in an open area, try to go to a low-lying place like a ditch or valley.
Stay away from metal objects! They can attract lightning.
Make yourself small by crouching down and putting your hands on your knees.
Here are some other great tips if you are outside from Weather Wiz Kids
Keep an eye at the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning, or increasing winds. Lightning often proceeds rain, so don’t wait for the rain to begin. If you hear the sound of thunder, go to a safe place immediately.
The best place to go is a sturdy building or a car, but make sure the windows in the car are shut. Avoid sheds, picnic areas, baseball dugouts and bleachers. If there is no shelter around you, stay away from trees. Crouch down in the open area, keeping twice as far away from a tree as far as it is tall. Put your feet together and place your hands over your ears to minimize hearing damage from thunder.
If you’re with a group of people stay about 15 feet from each other.
Stay out of water, because it’s a great conductor of electricity. Swimming, wading, snorkeling and scuba diving are not safe. Also, don’t stand in puddles and avoid metal.
Stay away from clotheslines, fences, and drop your backpacks because they often have metal on them.
If you’re playing an outdoor activity, wait at least 30 minutes after the last observed lightning strike or thunder.
Finally, if someone is struck by lightning, call for help. Call 9-1-1 or send for help immediately. The injured person does not carry an electrical charge, so it is okay to touch them.
Airs M-F from 2:00-2:30 p.m.
10/13The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush(Show 708)
A young Indian boy follows his vision quest to find the special gift he can bring to his people in the featured book by New Hampshire author and illustrator Tomie dePaola. Levar visits Dominic Arquero, a Native America painter who lives in a pueblo in New Mexico. Dolly Naranjo, with her daughter and mother, show how they make traditional pottery from mixing clay and shaping pots to finishing them. The Concha family prepare for and perform a traditional Pueblo dance. 2002 NH Outlook interview with Tomie dePaola in his New London home. >> View VideoNote: You will need RealPlayer to access this video.
Thunderstorms are large, strong storms that usually include thunder and lightning. They are extremely common in New Hampshire on hot days during the summer. Although thunderstorms can be extremely dangerous, they provide a great opportunity to explore meteorology, ecology, physics, and chemistry with children. 
