Description:
Students learn to use online and print resources to follow the weather forecast for a particular region. Students are then called upon on a certain day to report the weather expectations for their region. This lesson is designed to help students increase confidence in their research abilities and achieve satisfaction in their accomplishments by guiding them in the selection and presentation of accurate information in a timely manner.
Goals & Objectives:
LIBRARY MEDIA SKILLS OBJECTIVES
The student will use current weather resources to find out the weather forecast for a given day and region.
CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES:
This activity can be included in a science unit on weather and weather events.
MOTIVATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
The student will:
-become interested in the research process.
-understand the importance of information skills.
-experience increased confidence in research ability.
-achieve satisfaction in research accomplishments.
Materials & Sources:
Resource List
Weather Map
| Credits: |
School Library Media Activities Monthly
Adapted for SOS by Kori Gerbig
School of Information Studies
Syracuse University
|
| Sources: |
School Library Media Activities Monthly
January 2003; 19:5; 18-20
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
http://www.crinkles.com |
Procedures:
INSTRUCTIONAL ROLES:
-This activity may be completed in the classroom with support from the library media specialist.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPLETION:
-Prepare a large outline map of the United States on a chart or as a transparency. Those with access to computer equipment may wish to use this format. Challenge the students to think about themselves in relation to other students across the United States. What would they be wearing in terms of the weather on this day?
-Discuss weather patterns in general and ask students to look at a map of the United States. Include US possessions to make the lesson more interesting.
-The library media specialist introduces current weather reporting sources in the classroom or library media center. Discuss how students might best keep track of the weather. Introduce students to books and resources that might offer explanations of weather in given regions.
-Students are divided into small groups and given a section of the US to monitor. Explain that they will need practice keeping up because on a chosen day, all will be required to give a complete report on weather across the United States.
-The students' skills at collecting information should be monitored for a week. On a randomly selected day, distribute names of regions to students. The students group themselves by the region and within an hour identify the weather of that region for the day. Each group should be given a paper doll to dress appropriately for the weather of the region to place on the map.
-After the weather reports have been completed, students may be asked to evaluate the sources that they used.
*How easy was the source to access?
*How complete was the information?
*How accurate was the information?
FOLLOW-UP:
-Students may follow the reports of a given region and begin making predictions.
Assessment:
Each student will use at least one current weather reporting source to identify the weather of a given area in the United States.
Sources:
School Library Media Activities Monthly
January 2003; 19:5; 18-20
http://www.schoollibrarymedia.com
http://www.crinkles.com
