Introduction
The weatherman, Mr. Storm, needs your help. It has been raining nonstop and the people of Greensville are starting to complain! He needs you to create a new type of weather that your neighbors will enjoy more than rain. Get ready to climb into Mr. Storm’s weather machine. You will fly into four different types of storms and learn more about them. Then, Mr. Storm wants you to watch a story about someone creating weather. This will help give you a hint and teach you how dangerous it is to make up your own weather; so listen carefully. Finally, you will fly back home, where you will construct a new type of weather.
Task
In this WebQuest, you will learn about two different types of storms that people experience in the United States, each year. For this WebQuest, you need to split into groups of four students each. Once you are in your group you need to decide who will research each type of weather: thunderstorms and hurricanes. Then work alone for a while as you research your weather. I have provided a worksheet to help you document your research findings. After researching your type of weather bring your group back together. Spend some time in your group sharing what you have learned about each storm system.
Next, watch Dr. Seuss’ “Bartholomew and the Oobleck” together. After watching the story, pick one person to be your notetaker. Make a list of things that went wrong in the story. What problems did the weather create? How did people feel after? What would you do differently? What will you do to create a type of weather that is helpful?
Finally, your team is ready to decide on what new weather you are going to create for Greensville. Your team will need to take a picture with labels of your new weather. Make sure that your picture is big, colorful, and everything is spelled correctly. Then, create a presentation. Tell us what type of clouds form in your storm. Tell us the characteristics of your storm. Make sure to include how to prepare for your weather and the dangers that could happen. As you prepare your presentation be ready to answer questions. These questions might bring up some issues with your new weather. Be ready to nicely defend your new type of weather.
Process
Task 1:
First, get in groups of three students, then decide in your group what type of weather is going to research, finally assign each person, who takes notes, fill the worksheet and work on the picture label.
Task 2:
visit the links below that go with the storm you chose and watch the videos to have a clear idea of what you chose.
Task 3:
fill in the worksheet then meet up with your group to go over your findings.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12W0gjVusTOXO92Wu-E5Grx5hSCyT_16P/view?usp=sharing
Task 4:
Dr. Seuss' "Bartholomew and the Oobleck” Now pull your team back together. Discuss what you found out about your type of storm and see what your group found out. Then watch this video. Watch what happens when a new storm is created. Select a note taker.
Task 5:
Answer these questions at the end of the video:
- Make a list of things that went wrong in the story.
- What problems did the weather create?
- How did people feel after?
- What would you do differently?
- What will you do to create a type of weather that is helpful?
Task 6:
Draw a picture of your new weather. Make it colorful and creative. Label each cloud formation in your picture and other elements. Make sure you spell everything correctly.
Task 7:
Prepare a presentation. Tell us about your storm.
- What is your storm's name?
- What temperatures are normal in your weather?
- What are the benefits?
- What are the dangers?
- How long does it last?
Finally, present your project to the class. Each person needs to take a turn speaking.
Evaluation
|
CATEGORY |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Focus on the task |
Consistently stays focused on the task and what needs to be done. Very self-directed. |
Focuses on the task and what needs to be done most of the time. Other group members can count on this person. |
Focuses on the task and what needs to be done some of the time. Other group members must sometimes nag, prod, and remind to keep this person on-task. |
Rarely focuses on the task and what needs to be done. Lets others do the work. |
|
Attitude |
Always has a positive attitude about the task(s). |
Often has a positive attitude about the task(s). |
Usually has a positive attitude about the task(s). |
Often has a negative attitude about the task(s). |
|
Quality of Work |
Provides work of the highest quality. |
Provides high-quality work. |
Provides work that occasionally needs to be checked/redone by other group members to ensure quality. |
Provides work that usually needs to be checked/redone by others to ensure quality. |
|
Weather Worksheet |
5-6 questions on the worksheet where correct. |
4 questions on the worksheet where correct. |
3 questions on the worksheet were correct. |
2 or fewer questions on the worksheet were correct. |
|
Creativity of Weather |
The new type of weather was very creative. |
The new type of weather was creative. |
The new type of weather was somewhat creative. |
The new type of weather was a little creative. |
|
Presentation |
Students shared information about the group\'s new form of weather. |
Students share some information about the new form of weather. |
The student shared little information on the new form of weather. |
The student did not share about the new form of weather. |
Conclusion
Great work! Mr. Storm is very pleased with all of your hard work and creative minds. He looks forward to predicting your weather in the future.
Weather can be a fun and interesting topic to learn more about when you have time. If you would like to learn more about weather feel free to use a kid-friendly search engine such as www.kiddle.co for kid-friendly articles.
Credits
Kids, SciShow. “What Causes Thunder and Lightning?” YouTube, YouTube, 18 June 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEiVi9TB_RQ.
Kids, SciShow. “What's a Hurricane?” YouTube, YouTube, 20 July 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKubdY2mHXc.
Mrs. Caron. “Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss - Read-aloud.” YouTube, YouTube, 8 Nov. 2015,
youtube.com/watch?v=eDef7vcgrk0
Teacher Page
This activity has been created for second-grade students. Such scaffolding is at the heart of the WebQuest model. In this sense, WebQuests aren’t anything new except that they provide a way to integrate sound learning strategies with effective use of the Web. The Web and related communications technologies have been able to chip away at the Berlin Wall of traditional education by making these strategies not only advisable but essential.