Amanda McElroy and Nate Chenaille

December 5, 2011

Project 4

Professor Raker

Computers in Educations – EDUC 0396

Unit Topic or Theme: Science and Weather

Lesson Topic: Different types of weather, what to do in each weather situation.

Lesson Objectives: The students will be able to describe how each different type of weather effects each person, and what to do in each situation.

Instructional Technique: Students will work in groups of three to four and act as a weather news station (based on previous weather in an area they are forecasting), in front of the class and teachers.

Instructional Materials: Students will be required to create a weather map, and different weather symbols from any materials of their choosing.  They will also need to dress as a weather forecaster.  Lastly a basic script of what is to be said will be handed to the teachers before the act is put on, so the teacher can follow along.  There will be a few downloaded YouTube videos of news stations weather men giving the forecast. Lastly, students will be required to fill out an anonymous questionnaire about how they liked the lesson, what they didn’t like, and what they would change about it.

Theoretical Perspective: This information is important for students because, weather will always be in their lives, they should have the knowledge of understanding how it works, and what is being said while they watch the weather station. 

Procedure:

A.      Introductory Activity

*We will show the students the website Nate and Amanda created online about all the different types of weather.  The students will be able to ask any questions they have about each weather topic.  We will than watch a couple different YouTube videos of weathermen on the news explaining the forecast, to give students an idea of how weather is presented to the public.

                B.     Step by Step

Students will work in assigned groups of three to four where they will pretend to be a news crew presenting the weather, each group will be assigned a different area of America.  They will use the website Nate and Amanda created to incorporate the different types of weather into a seven day forecast.  There must be one day that a natural disaster -- that would actually happen in their assigned area -- will be occurring, and the students must describe in their presentation how to prepare for it.  Each presentation will be required to last at least five minutes, but not exceed ten.

C.      Closure

After the presentations the students will answer a questionnaire about the lesson.  The questionnaire will include the likes/dislikes of the assignment, and what they would change and keep the same about it.  The teachers will fill out a rubric for each group, and the students will also have to complete a peer evaluation sheet, in order for the teachers to know each student did an equal share.

D.      Adaptations

Students who are not fluent in English, and do not feel comfortable performing in front of the classroom can have the option of filming their presentation in private, having an extended amount of time, and turning the video into the teachers for them to grade, rather than performing in front of the class.

E.       Homework

Students will be allotted a generous amount of in class time, but will more than likely need to work outside the classroom with their group, to create objects they need for their presentation, and practice.  Once they present, they will be asked to complete a peer evaluation and lesson plan evaluation, in the privacy of their own homes.

Evaluation:

A.      How/When will you determine if you have met your objectives?

We will determine if we have met our objectives if the students show a strong understanding of the website, and YouTube videos.  Also, if they perform a believable performance, that resemble real life weather forecasts.

B.      Concerns or Questions you have about teaching this lesson?

We are concerned that some students have “stage fright” and will be very uneasy about performing in front of their peers.  However, we feel as if it is good if they do more public speaking in order to become more comfortable with it.

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