Date: 1994

Grade Level(s): 4, 5, 6

Subject(s):

• Science/Meteorology
• Science/Technology

MAJOR OBJECTIVES:

• To be aware of daily weather conditions and the type of clothing appropriate to wear to school
• To use weather maps to enhance skills in geography, such as recognizing states and countries

MATERIALS CHECKLIST:

• One computer; modem and phone line; printer (optional)
• Access to an online weather database
• Maps and weather symbols (optional); paper doll (optional)

TIME REQUIRED: 10 minutes daily

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

• Have the students work in teams of two. Each week, have the students rotate teams so that one team member is experienced and one is not.

• Daily, have a team access the on-line weather information and report it to the class. By the end of the year, each student should have an opportunity to use the modem, access the database, and report to the class. In addition to gathering the basic daily weather information, students can also study local forecasts to prepare their oral class reports.

• If classroom maps or weather symbols are available, the students can use these to illustrate the weather.

• Post a paper figure on the bulletin board, discuss as a class the appropriate dress for the weather the next morning, then dress the paper figure with the appropriate paper clothes (e.g. raincoat, boots, heavy coat, mittens, sweaters, etc.) to help the students dress comfortably the next morning.

• A printer can be used to generate geographic maps showing the weather patterns and temperatures.

FOLLOW-UP/EXTENSION: