Tech-Enhanced+Learning+Episode

=Weather Across the Country=



Abstract:
Students use a data collection website to research local past and present weather characteristics, such as temperature and precipitation, and note any patterns in the data. Students will also gather data from classrooms in other states or regions, and compare and contrast weather phenomena.

Learning Targets:
1. Students will learn about different weather phenomena. (Concept) 2. Students will learn how to track and graph weather data. (Skill) 3. Students will correspond with students from other classrooms to compare and contrast climate features. (Skill)

Context:
Elementary school math and/or science class(es). This lesson can be modified for various grade levels, increasing the concepts studied for higher grades and decreasing the concepts for lower grades. The lesson is designed for a period of several weeks.

Description of Learning Episode:
Students will learn about different weather phenomena through classroom lecture and discussion, [|JetStream] information, and personal observations. In addition, the first few days students will investigate local temperature and precipitation averages, highs, and lows (see Third Investigation). The students will also make a chart recording daily the temperature highs and lows, the amount and type of precipitation received, and the weather observed (See [|NWS Southern Region Headquarters]). In pairs, students should give the class a weather report, detailing the data and observations.

After the class has monitored the local weather for a week or two and the process is routine, the students will then share weather conditions with another classroom through the use of Skype, an online-video phone call program). First, the different classrooms will describe the regional locations including land features and typical weather conditions. Next, the classes daily share the weather reports, gathering information from their own data and the partner class data. The class will chart all of the data obtained. The students will make inferences and predictions about the causes and effects of geography and climate in their science journals. The journal entries will continue throughout the learning experience.

In addition to the scientific concepts, the students will use the data obtained and learn how to apply the mathematical concepts of maximum, minimum, mode, median, and mean. The students can also learn about the application of this data through the data charts on the National Weather Service website (see Third Investigation). Students will also learn to make their own graphs of data obtained.

Finally, in communicating with students in another classroom, the students' social skills will be strengthened and their knowledge about a different region, and, possibly, culture will be enhanced.

Connections to our model of learning:
The lesson, or portions of the lesson, will appeal to kinesthetic, nature, interpersonal, intrapersonal, logical-mathematical, spatial, and linguistic learners. Students will //experience// the weather as they observe it. They will //reflect// upon the information and their experience as they complete their journals and the data charts. The students //communicate// the data to other classrooms and through the daily weather reports. Finally, the students will //revise// their predictions and inferences in their journals and information sharing as the lesson progresses.

An additional benefit of this lesson is that it covers concepts in multiple subjects (mathematics, science, social studies, speech) and uses multiple skills (social, academic, technological).

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