Final Collaborative Inspiration Concept Map

Collaboration Inspiration Part II

The main change for the project is the Inspiration is more focused to the main idea of the project of wanting to present a Daily Weather Report. The first Inspiration had more ideas leading up to the main idea. Part II of the Inspiration has streamlined into centering around the Weather Reports. I think this needed to be changed because the project did not have one main focus.

Weather Monitoring Collaboration Inspiration Part II

Lesson Plan Two

As alluded to in the Digital Story post, Lesson Plan Two will be the culmination of Lesson Plan One and the Digital Story. The students researched the history of the thermometer to how a thermometer works and now they will make their own thermometers and take daily measurements with their thermometers to compare with their fellow students.

Digital Story

Good evening,
My digital story will be an explanation of how a thermometer works. It will be a continuation of Lesson One and will be an introduction to Lesson Plan Two. After my students researched thermometers, I will give them a quick tutorial on how the thermometers works. Then, in Lesson Plan Two, the students will take their newfound information on make their own thermometers and take weather measurements for which they will compare with the other students.

Rick

Lesson Plans

Good Evening Team,
I wanted to know who wants to take what for our lesson plans. Lesson plans can take quite a bit of time and this week my schedule is quickly getting busy by the hour. Does anyone have an idea of what lesson they would like to do?

Thanks,
Teresa

Global Awareness of Weather Monitoring: U.S. vs. Australia

South Haven/Lake Michigan Trip

View Lake Michigan Trip in a larger map

South Haven, Michigan is almost defined by its location near Lake Michigan. Located within walking distance of the beach are the Michigan Maritime Museum rich with area history including the study of weather instruments used over the decades. The student will visit the museum and walk through the different exhibits. The students will then visit the beach on Lake Michigan to reinforce the information learned in the classroom and at the museum. Weather in southwest Michigan is greatly affected by the winds coming from the lake in the winter (lake effect snow) and in the summer (less humidity).

Australia/Indian Ocean Trip

View Indian Ocean Trip in a larger map

Perth, Australia, one of the largest cities on Australia, is located on the shores of the Indian Ocean. The mild almost tropical weather is greatly affected by the ocean currents giving them pleasant weather conditions. The Australian fifth graders will take an almost similar field trip as their American counterparts to the Western Australia Maritime Museum to learn about the past history near the Indian Ocean and how the ocean has affected the weather in the area. Additionally, the visit to the beach will reinforce how the area is affected by the ocean and its ocean currents. The students will also be able to reinforce what has been learned in the classroom with this real world experience.

South Haven, Lake Michigan Lighthouse

Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Australia

Google Document & Google Maps

Good evening Group,
I have completed both maps for the Australian and Michigan students. I have sent collaboration emails to both of you to see if you would want to add or remove anything from them.

I have also added on to the Google Document (including adding map descriptions on Page 2). Please review and add or remove what you think will make it better.

Just finishing up. Watching the Super Bowl. Go Patriots!

I can upload everything to the blog tonight. I plan on uploading at around 11:00.
Thanks, Rick

Google Document and Google Map

Good afternoon Group,
I am working on adding to the shared Google Document as well as starting the Google Map. I think the main focus with the Google Map is the comparing and contrasting the regions. Southwest Michigan is near Lake Michigan while Australia is near/surrounded by the Indian Ocean. How will the ocean water and freshwater affect their weather? How will the different hemispheres affect the weather? It is February and Michigan it is in the middle of winter while across the world the weather in Australia is summer. The amount of precipation will vary greatly due to these differences.

Update: Google Map. I think I need to make two separate Google Maps for the assignment because the fifth grade students in southwest Michigan will be going on a trip while the fifth grade students in Perth, Australia (southwest Australia) will both be going on trips. I am sending a collaboration request for the Michigan map right now. The Australia map will be following soon.

Thanks, Rick

Google Documents

Hello Group,
Teresa thanks again for taking the lead on creating the Google shared Document. I did just receive the request tot share the document. I will be working on my thoughts/input later this afternoon. We will also need to decide what country we would want to include on the Google Map. I think maybe Australia or Japan. Some country with completely different weather than our own would be interesting. I have used Google Maps in my last semester class. So, I hope to be a good source for it. Talk to you all later today.

Rick

Google Docs

Good Afternoon,
     I discovered how to create a google document. I am a first time user. If I shared it correctly you should be able to add your input at any time. I still have yet to add mine.

Have a Good Day
~Teresa

Hi Team,
I cannot figure out how to get to posts or comments that I have already published. (Post to Sharon about media newscast) Can anyone help me?

Web Site Evaluations - Internet Resources

Good evening Team,
Here are the three websites I thought would add to our project on Weather Monitoring. Two of them are directly geared to the K-6 grade level while the other is a university website for research and history purposes:

• The Weather Dude: This is a weather education website by a meteorologist named Nick Walker. He has many different resources and tries to make weather fun for kids.
• Wonderful World of Weather: This is another weather education website sponsored by the Stevens Institute of Technology. There are actual weather projects teachers can use to teach weather to students as well as a research guide.
• Theweatherprediction.com : This website is run by Michigan State University and it bills itself as "The Ulitmate Weather Education Website". Tons of links to images, blogs, quizzes, and weather-related materials.

I will be submitting my website evaluations shortly. Thanks, Rick

Web Evaluations

Here are the sites that I will evaluate, so no one else does the same.

1. http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/

2. http://theweatherchannelkids.com/

3.  http://www.education.noaa.gov/index.html

 -Ally

That sounds great Teresa. I will find some websites and post them and an evaluation as soon as I can. Let me know if there is anything else you need.

Rick,
I love your idea about interviewing a local  meteorologist and visiting a local television station. Students, I think would enjoy this part of the project. I am definitely a hands-on learner and think the way children do and I got excited when I saw this! I do have just one question for both you and Teresa. Do we have to have a specific grade level we are working with or is this something we have to decide for all grade levels that we will be certified in? (ie K-8)

Collaborative Inspiration - Weather Monitoring

Weather Monitoring Brainstorming ideas

Good Evening, The ide that I would like to propose is a weather newscast. Feel free to add or take away as you please. Students will: Predict the next day's weather and actually chart the temperature for each day. Students will: Look at previous year and compare to the present in order to make a graph. Students will: Use a radar map to determine what the next day's weather will be. Students will: generate real questions about the weather based on observation and previous weather. Students will: Manipulate simple devices and explain how they work. (Temperature Thermometer) Students will: Develop strategies and skills for information gathering and problem solving. ( Tools: Sources of information, such as reference books, trade books, periodicals. Real-world contexts: Seeking help from peers, adults, libraries, other resources.) Students will: Construct charts and graphs and prepare summaries of observations. ( Key concepts: Increase, decrease, steady. Tools: Graph paper, rulers, crayons. Real-world contexts : Examples of simple charts and graphs like those found in a newspaper.)

Weather Monitoring Project Idea

From my brainstorming ideas, here is an example of one weather monitoring project:

Weather Monitoring Project Idea
1. Students would research the history of meteorology.
2. Mark advancements in weather monitoring technology on a timeline.
3. Monitor the weather for a predetermined time (week, month, etc.) using old school tools and modern tools such as a mercury thermometer vs. a digital thermometer.
4. Compare and Contrast the results using both the manual and digital tools.
5. Compare both readings to the Internet, television, radio, and newspaper (one or all for comparison).
6. Interview a local meteorologist to get their insights on how weather monitoring has evolved over the year in particular in the area of technology. Pros? Cons?
7. Visit a local news television station to see how the new high tech tools and systems measure temperature and weather systems.
8. Optional: Work with other student groups in different geographical areas of the United States such as in the South, West, and the Northeast to compare their findings. Does the area of the country help or hinder the results?

Weather Monitoring Brainstorming Ideas

Weather Monitoring Brainstorming
Who? What? Where? Why? How? To What Extent?
Who monitors weather?
History of Meteorology
• Famous figures of meteorology
• Famous discoveries (thermometers, barometers, etc.)
Meteorologists, National Weather Association, bloggers, me, you, Storm Chasers
What is weather monitoring?
How has weather monitoring changed over the centuries?
How do different countries monitor weather?
Students could use the manual tools and then use the electronic tools. Compare them.
Where is weather monitored?
Look at the different parts of the world and compare and contrast what they need to monitor (i.e. tsunamis are an issue in Asia, but not much of an issue in most of the United States).
Why is weather monitored?
To determine, warn, and save lives from incoming weather disasters
How have the type and amount of disasters affected the way weather is monitored?
Do any countries still use older methods to monitor weather?
What high tech tools are used to monitor weather today?
• Storm chasers use tracking systems to throw inside a tornado to study them.
• Different types of radars.
• Buoys in the ocean
• Antarctica has scientists continually studying the continent for weather.
To what extent has weather monitoring affected the world?
The technology of weather monitoring tools has advanced with other technologies
Meteorologists are able to determine approaching tornadoes and hurricanes to save lives.
Every day, Americans are able to plan their day based on the weather.
Continued exposure to the weather all day through The Weather Channel, all newscasts have weather reports as well as the Internet, newspapers, radio, etc.

Ha! I figured out how to create a post. Yayyy Me!

Hello, my fellow Weather Monitoring Crew. Have we decided on how we will download Inspiration so that we can all benefit from the 30 days. Is it possible for Ally to do the first 30 days and I will do the next 30 days and Rick can do the last 30 days. Thanks so much again Rick for putting the blog together! ~Teresa

Just testing to make sure this works! Hello Teresa and Rick :)