Weather & Climate

A WebQuest for 5th & 6th Grade (Science)

Put some interesting graphic representing the content here

Introduction

Students are put in charge of their learning within guided parameters. This WebQuest enables students to learn some of the differences between weather, climate, and meteorology. Students will create a Weathclimameteor book. Weathclimameteor is a combination of the three words to make up a unique and silly title for the book students will compile. Students are asked to help me, the news station director to research each process and compile to book which is used as their “credentials” to work at the news station.

Learners

This lesson, designed for fifth and sixth graders, is based in Science. This lesson includes some graphing and writing which integrates Math and English to a small degree. Students need to have prior knowledge of journaling and need to be familiar with graphs to know if their graph is accurate.

Curriculum Standards

Science Standards:

Match the cloud type to a specific kind of weather.

Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.

Understanding about scientific inquiry.

Process

1. Define weather, climate, and meteorology. http://www.webster.com/

2. Document the conversion formula of Fahrenheit and Celsius degrees.

http://www.albireo.ch/temperatureconverter/formula.htm

3. Keep record of weather in any city of the world for ten consecutive days. http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/62366.html

4. Get a nice colored picture of the city you chose. Use google to find free pictures of the city you chose. www.google.com

5. Graph results of weather tracking. Select the Graph option and use the New Create a Graph! http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/index.asp?flash=true

6. List and define the 3 basic cloud types. http://weather.about.com/library/weekly/aa032802a.htm

7. Find three pictures of each cloud type. Use the following link to help you find these pictures. In the search area enter keywords such as, photographs of cirrus clouds, etc. www.google.com

8. Observe the clouds in the sky where you live for ten consecutive days and journal your findings for each day.

9. At the end of the project you will give a “live” weather broadcast of the city you have chosen. See Miss Khillah when you are ready for this step.

Resources Needed

A computer for each student

Printer

Colored pencils, crayons, or markers

Folder to create book

Paper materials

Evaluation

Please look over your compiled book and compare it to the rubric to see if there is anything you can improve.

Web Site Design : Weather & Climate WebQuest

Teacher Name: Miss Khillah

Student Name: ________________________________________

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Learning of Material	The student has an exceptional understanding of the material included in the site and where to find additional information. Can easily answer questions about the content and procedures used to make the web site.	The student has a good understanding of the material included in the site. Can easily answer questions about the content and procedures used to make the web site.	The student has a fair understanding of the material included in the site. Can easily answer most questions about the content and procedures used to make the web site.	Student did not appear to learn much from this project. Cannot answer most questions about the content and the procedures used to make the web site.
Layout	The Web site has an exceptionally attractive and usable layout. It is easy to locate all important elements. White space, graphic elements and/or alignment are used effectively to organize material.	The Web pages have an attractive and usable layout. It is easy to locate all important elements.	The Web pages have a usable layout, but may appear busy or boring. It is easy to locate most of the important elements.	The Web pages are cluttered looking or confusing. It is often difficult to locate important elements.
Content	The book has a well-stated clear purpose and theme that is carried out throughout the book.	The book has a clearly stated purpose and theme, but may have one or two elements that do not seem to be related to it.	The purpose and theme of the book is somewhat muddy or vague.	The book lacks a purpose and theme.
Spelling and Grammar	There are no errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Web site.	There are 1-3 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Web site.	There are 4-5 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Web site.	There are more than 5 errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar in the final draft of the Web site.
Graphics	Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, are thoughtfully cropped, are of high quality and enhance reader interest or understanding.	Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, are of good quality and enhance reader interest or understanding.	Graphics are related to the theme/purpose of the site, and are of good quality.	Graphics seem randomly chosen, are of low quality, OR distract the reader.
Background	Background is exceptionally attractive, consistent across pages, adds to the theme or purpose of the site, and does not detract from readability.	Background is attractive, consistent across pages, adds to the theme or purpose of the site, and does not detract from readability.	Background is consistent across pages and does not detract from readability.	Background detracts from the readability of the site.
Fonts	The fonts are consistent, easy to read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text. Use of font styles (italic, bold, underline) is used consistently and improves readability.	The fonts are consistent, easy to read and point size varies appropriately for headings and text.	The fonts are consistent and point size varies appropriately for headings and text.	A wide variety of fonts, styles and point sizes was used.

Conclusion

I hope you and your students enjoy this learning process. God bless you.

Credits & References

Rubric generated at Rubistar. http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

Student and Teacher template to create WebQuest. Webquest.sdsu.edu

Used Publisher Clip art. Microsoft Publisher.

"We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL."

Last updated on (July 25, 2006). Based on a template from The WebQuest Page