3rd Grade Weather Web Quest

 

 

Contents

 

Introduction                                                                       

YOU ARE A WEATHER NEWS TEAM RESEARCHING NATURAL DISASTERS

                          

Tornadoes     Hurricanes    Lightning      Flooding    Winter Weather

In this lesson you are asked to work as a four person weather team to research natural disasters.  You will be given specific duties and questions to guide your search.  You will gather information from various web sites that coincide with your job.  You will be researching by exploring the Internet, using information from texts, and working as a team.  At the end of your research, you will be creating a weather news report based on what you learned.

 

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Task

 

You are a member of a four person weather team.  Each team member will be assigned to a specific job with specific duties.  Once everyone has collected all of their data, as a group you will be creating your own weather broadcast report.  It is extremely important for everyone to work together in order to give an exceptional broadcast report. Remember you will be appearing on “television” so do your best!

The following is the order of the broadcast:

       Meteorologist
        Storm Chaser
        Cartographer
        Weather Journalist

You are expected to speak for at least two minutes each.

 

** You must record your information in your weather journal.  Remember to be very detailed in your findings. 


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Procedure

Meteorologist   - You are a weather scientist/expert.  

Your job is to research information on your natural disaster in order to inform the public what this natural disaster is.  

You must find out:

How are they formed?
How strong can they be, or what are their intensity levels?
When do they most likely happen?
What are the warnings, if there are any?

You should use at least one visual aid (pictures or maps) in your report.

 

Storm Chaser -  You are the brave one who actually travels around the United States looking for each type of natural disaster.  

Your job is to research information on your natural disaster and inform the public on:

How do you spot this?
What are the weather/sky warning signs that tell you a natural disaster is coming?
Who travels with you?
What supplies you need to find/chase these natural disasters?  

You should show at least one storm chasing tool for your report. 

 

Cartographer - You are the map expert.  

Your job is to research information on natural disasters and find out:

Where do they occur in the United States ?
What states have the most natural disasters of your kind?
Where have the strongest and deadliest natural disasters occurred?

Also, you must have at least one map of the United States showing this information for your report.

 

Weather Journalist - You are the people researcher.  

Your job is to research information on natural disasters and find out:

How do you make a natural disaster plan?
What should people do if a natural disaster is coming and what items do you need?
What is a safe type of house or building for your natural disaster?
What are some natural disaster myths?  

You should show at least one item you would need if a natural disaster is coming for your report.

WEBSITE LINKS

Tornado

Hurricanes

Lightning

Flooding

Winter Weather

WEATHER WEBSITE FOR ALL TYPES OF WEATHER


*Weather team members are allowed to use each others links for additional information.*

 

After the completion of your research you must write a four paragraph essay for your special television report.  Each paragraph should contain at least three detailed and complete sentences.

 

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Resources

 

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Conclusion

This is an effective lesson by exposing students to the topic of natural disasters and weather, journalism, and United States geography.  This lesson integrates many areas of the curriculum including geography, history, social studies, language arts, writing, and reading.  Also, this lesson will teach students how to be aware of weather conditions and how to help other people.

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Evaluation

 

Beginning

5

Developing

10

Accomplished

15

Exemplary

20

Score

 

Analyze and Completes Weather Journal

 

 

Answers one questions specific to student's job.

Answers two questions specific to student's job

Answers three questions specific to student's job in complete and detailed sentences. 

Answers all four questions specific to student's job in complete and detailed sentences.

 

 

Develops Special Report Essay

 

 

Writes a one paragraph essay with few complete sentence and incorrect grammar.

Writes a two paragraph essay with some complete sentences and some correct grammar. 

Writes a three paragraph essay with all  complete sentences and correct grammar.

Writes a four paragraph essay.  All sentences are complete and detailed with correct grammar. 

 

 

Works as a team member

 

Collaborates very little with other team members.

Collaborates somewhat as a team member

Collaborates all the time as a team member

 

 

 

Broadcasts  a Special Television Report

Presents an informative report, lasting less than one minute, with little presentation skills, and no visual aides

Presents an informative report, lasting around two minutes, with little presentation skills, and one visual aide  

Presents an  informative report, lasting around two minutes, with  some proper presentation skills, and one visual aide 

Presents a detailed informative report lasting more than two minutes, with proper presentation skills, and uses visual aides

 

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Last revised: 4/19/05

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