Abstract
During our Language Arts theme
on “Weather,” students will learn about the importance that weather plays
in our daily lives. Using a multitude of resources, students will
learn about the causes of weather and how meteorologists predict the weather.
Each student will get their turn to report the weather for our school announcements
that are videotaped each day.
Invitation
Will thunderstorms ruin our
picnic? Will a blizzard close the schools? Our student meteorologists
will find out!
Unit Details
Science/Language Arts/Technology
Learning Level - Intermediate
State Standards
Lang. Arts 1A – Apply work
analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.
Lang. Arts 1C – Comprehend
a broad range of reading materials
Lang. Arts 4B – Speak effectively
using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
Lang. Arts 5A – Locate, organize
and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems,
and communicate ideas.
Lang. Arts 5B – Apply acquired
information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.
Science 11A – Know and apply
the concepts, principles, and processes of scientific inquiry.
Technology (proposed)
(1) Basic operation and concept. (2) Technology productivity tools.
Benchmarks
Lang. Arts 1A –Use vocabulary
skills.
Lang. Arts 1C – Use reading
strategies before, during, and after reading.
Lang. Arts 4B – Speak for
a variety of purposes.
Lang. Arts 5A – Locate, organize
and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems,
and communicate ideas.
Lang. Arts 5C – Communicate
acquired information, concepts, and ideas.
Science 11A – Use appropriate
metric tools as a standard of measurement.
Technology (proposed) –(1)
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation
of technology systems. (2) Students use technology tools to enhance learning,
increase productivity, and promote creativity. Students use productivity
tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing
publications, and producing other creative works.
Situations
The class will learn about
weather and each student will be responsible for predicting the day’s weather.
The study of weather will take place over the six weeks Weather theme.
During the last four weeks, the students will be using their skills to
announce the weather.
Tasks
1. Students will read about
different types of weather in the reading text and other literature.
2. Students will check the
newspaper each day for weather predictions.
3. Students will make a rain
gauge & windsock and check these everyday.
4. Each student will keep
a daily record of weather conditions.
5. A meteorologist will speak
to the students about his career and what a meteorologist does.
6. The class will take a field
trip to the Springfield Children’s Museum to use their hands-on weather
instruments and weather studio, or a field trip to the News Channel 20
Station to see how the news (and weather) is reported.
7. Use the preselected Internet
sites to learn about the weather and its effects.
8. Gather information about
our area’s weather conditions and make a prediction about the weather.
(Guidelines will be available)
9. Students will be videotaped
predicting the weather. (See assessment rubric
for weather report). This will be shown to the entire school during
daily announcements.
Interactions
Students will work in small
groups to make weather instruments and use the Internet.
The teacher will videotape
the daily student weather reports. Parents may volunteer to accompany
us on our field trips. Meteorologists from the community will be invited
into our classrooms, and subsequently, the classes are put on the nightly
news.
School-to-Work Connection:
Students will find out the duties of a meteorologist.
Assessments
Completion of Daily Weather
Chart (see rubric)
Successful presentation of
Weather Report (see rubric)
| 4 Proficient | 3 Advanced | 2 Basic | 1 Novice | |
| Weather is charted for each day. | Chart is completed including weekends for the assigned period. | Chart is complete for weekdays for the assigned period. | Some of chart is completed. | Chart is not available. |
| Weather Chart uses accurate weather symbols. | Chart is completed accurately using weather symbols. | Chart is mostly complete using accurate weather symbols. | Some of chart uses accurate weather symbols. | No evidence of weather symbols on chart. |
| Overall appearance(Neatness and conventions). | Chart is pleasing in appearance. Chart has no major errors with few minor errors. | Chart is pleasing in appearance. Chart may have one major error and some minor errors. | Chart may be somewhat messy. Some major and minor errors. | Chart is unreadable. |
| 4 Proficient | 3 Advanced | 2 Basic | 1 Novice | |
| Quality of speech | Voice quality is clear and speech is intelligible throughout presentation. | Most of presentation is intelligible. Speaking may be either too fast or too slow. | Voice quality is inconsistent. May be hard to understand some parts. | Voice quality is insufficient or unintelligible throughout presentation. |
| Use of props | Use of weather map, weather symbols, and thermometer is accurate and enhances presentation. | Use of weather map, weather symbols, and thermometer is mostly accurate. | Uses one prop. | Does not use any props. |
| Preparedness | Student presents forecast using accurate research on assigned day. | Student presents forecast with most research accurate and ready. | Student presents forecast with some research information. | No preparation apparent. |
| Overall presentation | Presentation is accurate and clear. Student uses props. No major errors. | Presentation is mostly accurate and clear. Students use some props correctly. Few minor errors. | Presentation is partly accurate and clear. Student uses one prop. Some minor errors. | resentation is unclear. No props used correctly. Several errors. |
Tools
Internet
Video Camera
Video tape/ VCR
Newspaper
Reading text, Invitations
to Literacy, Houghton Mifflin, “Weather Watch!”
Books relating to weather
and forecasting
Internet sites
http://www.wxdude.com/
The Weather Dude explains
the principles of weather for students and parents.
http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/nc/IL/SpringfieldSPI.html
Get the latest 5-day forecast
for Springfield from CNN.
http://www.athena.ivv.nasa.gov/curric/weather/index.html
Has several links to weather
for students, The Clouds and Charting the Weather correlate with our reading
text. Also, they include excellent pictures of storms, hurricanes,
and tornadoes.
http://sln.fi.edu/weather/todo/todo.html
How to make your own weather
station.
http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/3805/
Thinkquest format for students,
they can check out their own location’s weather and read weather stories
written by students. They can also write and send their own weather
stories.
http://www.whnt19.com/kidwx/
Wild Weather Page with lots
of information on all kinds of weather.
http://www.weather.com/homepage.html
Up-to-date weather information
to click on for your own area.
http://www.wics.com/
Local television station with
links to our weather.
http://www.sj-r.com/
Link to local newspaper with
latest weather forecasts.