AND NOW YOUR LOCAL FORECAST

Grade Level:
7th and 8th

Subject:
Math, Science, and Language Arts

Learner Outcomes:

• The students will analyze  "The Backyard Meteorologist" weather center's recorded data.
• The students will interpret diagrams and weather maps.
• The students will interpret the standard weather symbols.
• The students will develop a plan to present a  weather forecast.
• Students will present a weather forecast.

Duration of Lesson:
3-4 class period (50 minute periods)

Materials:
video camera
data from previous activity
weather maps

Technology Tools/Courseware:
 Internet
 video camera

Teacher Notes:
    This lesson is designed using a peer partner.
     Every student must have an acceptable use policy on file.

Procedures:
 

1. Divide the students into the same teams of four to five as "The Backyard Meteorologist" activity.
2. Using the data collected from "The Backyard Meteorologist", the students will  prepare for their broadcast.
3. Watch the weather channel and/or local news for tips and ideas to use in their weather production.
4. Using a video camera, record the weather broadcast in front of the class.

Modifications:
   1.  Special needs children will watch and then model a meteorologist giving the weather forecast presentation.
   2.  As stated in student's Individual Educational Plans
   3.  Peer teaming to aid the slower  or confused student

Enrichment Activities:
    Guest speaker from the local television network giving a presentation on weather forecasting.

State and National Standards:

National Standards For Mathematics

• use problem solving approaches to investigate and understand mathematical content
• formulate problems from situations within and outside of mathematics
• develop and apply a variety of strategies to solve problems with the emphasis on multistep and nonroutine problems
• verify and interpret results with respect to the original problem situation
• generalize solutions and strategies to new problem situations
• acquire confidence in using mathematics meaningfully
• model situations using pictorial and graphical methods
• reflect on and clarify their own thinking about mathematical ideas and situations
• discuss mathematical ideas and make conjectures and convincing arguments
• recognize and apply deductive and inductive reasoning
• understand and apply reasoning processes with special attention to reasoning and graphs
• make and evaluate mathematical conjectures
• validate their own thinking
• explore problems and describe results using graphical, physical and verbal mathematical models
• apply mathematical thinking to solve problems that arise in the discipline of science
• understand, represent, and use decimals and percents in real world mathematical problem situations
• develop number sense for whole numbers, decimals, and integers
• understand and apply percents in a wide variety of situations
• represent numerical relationships in one and two dimensional graphs
• understand and appreciate the need for numbers beyond whole numbers
• extend students understanding of whole number operations to integers
• select and use an appropriate method for computing via the calculator
• use computation to solve problems
• use estimation to check the reasonableness of results
• analyze functional relationships to explain how a change in one quantity results in a change in another
• systematically collect, organize, and describe data
• construct, read. and interpret tables, charts, and graphs
• make inferences and convincing arguments that are based on data analysis
• develop an appreciation for statistical methods as powerful means for decision making
• make predictions that are based on experimental or theoretical probabilities

• Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
• Understanding about scientific inquiry
• Structure of the earth system
• Abilities of technological design

• Demonstrates a competence in speaking and listening as a tool for learning.
• Demonstrates a competence in the general skills and strategies for reading a variety of informational texts.

 Fine Arts/Humanities, Engineering/Technical, Business and Marketing, Science/ Natural Resources

Occupations:
computer systems analysts, engineer, and scientist, communication technologist,  writer, artist, graphic designer, entertainer, broadcast announcer, editor, camera operator, producer, director, actor, and meteorologist
 

References:
The Weather Center

Authors:
Miller Junior High School
Paul Dumont
Carla Luketic
Barbara Shevchuck