By Laura Thibodeau

Grade Level: 4^th Grade

Objective: The students should be able to research the type of weather that interests him/her, and present that research to their classmates. Research will be shared in an oral and written presentation.

Materials: Computer(s) w/Internet and word, printer, paper

Duration: 45 minutes computer research/Internet time, in-class time given for rough draft of the paper, and 45 minutes writing/word time.

Prerequisites: This lesson should be done after the students have learned about the water cycle and cloud formations. Students will need to know how to get onto the Internet and use Microsoft Word.

Procedure: Students should get into the Internet and go to one of the two Internet sites listed below.
 
 

http://nws-sc.wctp.noaa.gov/Office/kidsweather/index.html

http://www.whnt19.com/kidwx/

Once the student has gotten into the chosen site they should chose a weather topic that they would like to know more about. Students should gather as much information as they can about the chosen topic. The students should ta ke notes and print any interesting graphics and/or information.

After the students have gathered the information about their topic, they can begin to compose their paper. The paper is to be hand written and edited before it is composed on the computer in word.

Once the student’s papers have been approved, they can type them on the computer.

Closure: Each student will teach the class what they have learned by giving an oral presentation on their chosen topic.

Assessment: Students should be able to demonstrate their new knowledge through their oral and written presentations. Graphics and of drawn visuals should be included in the oral presentation.

Lesson 2

Grade Level: 4^th Grade

Objective: The students should be able to compare the actual weather with the Weather Channel forecast.

Materials: Computer w/Internet, printer, thermometer, and science journal

Duration: 45 minutes to gather information on the Internet, 15 minutes each day for five days to gather actual weather information

Prerequisites: This lesson should be done after the students have learned about the water cycle, weather, and cloud formations. Students will need to know how to get onto the Internet.

Procedure: In groups of two, students should log onto the Internet and go to:

http://www.weather.com/ . Once they have gotten into the Weather Channel web site. They should choose their state under "Browse all cities/countri es". The students should then click on the first letter of the name of their town, then click on their town. (If the town is not listed chose a bordering town.) The students should then print the "5-Day Forecast".

Starting that day, the students should record the weather over the next five days in their science journals. They should take down the temperature each day, as well as what the weather is like. (Example: sunny, partly cloudy, rainy, etc.)

At the end of five days, compare the Weather Channels forecast with the actual weather, and show the differences. Write a 1-page paper on the differences in the forecast and the actual weather. Was the Weather Channel accurate?

Closure: Students will discuss what, if any, differences they have found in the forecast and the actual weather. If it was not accurate, what could be some reasons why?
 

Assessment: The students should be able to show any differences that they have found in the forecast and the actual weather, and hypothesize why those differences occurred.