MARTINEZ -- First grader John Coleman Hansen usually does math problems in Ms. Blackburn's class at Stevens Creek Elementary. But today he learned another lesson.

"If there's a tornado and you cover your head when you do it, and if there's a tornado it won't hit your head," said John Coleman

His head hurts during the drill, but that's probably because he's doing it right. Kids crouch as low as they can against an interior wall. They don't sit near doors or windows. A teacher tells one student to scoot down so she can also avoid being in front of an electrical outlet.

The school's four outdoor portables are also outfitted with weather radios. Emergency messages piped through them during today's drills.

Students get out of class for a few minutes, but Principal Michelle Paschal makes sure they know why.

"They're very cooperative," she said. "They know the drills are serious. It's not a playtime for us."

News 12 Chief Meteorologist Shane Butler remembers giggling about the drills as a kid. But he says knowing where to go makes all the difference.

"Let's say when a tornado comes in your area, the last thing you want to be doing is trying to find a safe place. You want to already know what that is. That's what these drills give us an opportunity to do," he said.