Unit+of+Instruction

= Weather and Climate = media type="custom" key="9172218" width="134" height="134" align="left"

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**Check me out! I show you exactly what to expect in the forecast where you live!** ElementaryScope-1.doc Designing a unit-9.docx

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**Laura Williams**

media type="custom" key="8982390" Here is a selection of videos to get us started on out unit! Below is a brief description of each #|video included! Enjoy

1. The Greenhouse Effect: //This is a very kid-friendly and fact-filled clip about Global Warming. It explains a lot, but in a way that is easy to follow.// 2. Kids for Climate: //Kids talk about what they see happening with the world's changing climate. They explain how they are noticing that changing climate is causing around the world.// 3. Bill Nye the Science Guy-Stormin': //This short #|video explains how storms are created. It is pretty simple and a lot of fun!// 4. Heat and Weather (Discovery Channel): //This video makes the connection between heat from the sun and its impacts on weather all around the world.// //5.// Tornado Footage: //This video takes us up close and personal with the dangers and power of extreme weather!//

**Unit Overview**

Overview
 * In this unit we want to learn more about weather. Our main goal is to become knowledgeable about different types of weather in our own backyards and across the world. We want to be able to tell our friends and family fun weather facts. We also to understand how to keep safe in severe weather and when severe weather is on its way. We will become our own meteorologists and weather experts! **

Student Audience
 * This unit designated for a third grade classroom. Students at this level will be learning on their own, from each other, with each other and with their teacher. **

Timeframe
 * We plan to spend three weeks on this unit. This gives us one hour per class each, and with twelve, we will be able to spend about two on each one. **

Rationale
 * I am teaching this unit so that my students can better understand their own surroundings. I want them to be able to keep themselves safe in the sun, and understand what is beyond a day to miss school. Weather is also important because it is changing today, and since these kids are the future, they need to be able to recognize what is happening in their world, especially those things no one has control over. **

Unit Objectives
 * Students will be able to gain a strong understanding of all types of weather and climate and it to their everyday lives. However, we are also focusing a lot on technology in this unit. After this unit, students will be able to use safe-internet skills, manipulate word programs, and express themselves and their ideas in unique and individual ways, such as with videos and digital stories. **

Unit Standards
 * The two main standards being addressed in this unit are Standards 4 and 5. Standard 4 relates to Earth and Space science. This Standard has an emphasis on Earth’s systems. Standard 5 will be applied in that students will learn understand more in depth the natural world. **

Variations or Adaptations
 * For this portion I will focus on ELA students. In #|order to provide the best means of support for learning for these students I would like to place an emphasis on visual learning. This means that when I am teaching directly, I will use a lot of movement and motion to help my students understand what I am talking about. I also would like to use as much kinesthetic learning as possible. This will allow students to learn the #|content, without having to do so by struggling with understanding something they are #|reading or writing something when they are having trouble finding the words they want to express their ideas. This is also a good idea because many children are in fact kinesthetic learners and a hands on experience is a good way for all students to gain comprehension. **


 * Also, when we are working with something they cannot do physically, I would like to try to find materials that still provide the same quality of material, however might be more comprehensible. For instance, with websites, I would like to make sure that the level of any information provided, no matter which way it is distributed, is at an attainable level for my students. This is not to say I do not want to push my students. I want them to do their very best in everything and go as far as they can in their studies, even if it is for the time while within my classroom. **

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 * Thus said, I will always strive to be available and helpful to my students. I will be there to support and encourage them. However, I will help them to find answers and gain understanding on their own, rather than simply telling them what I want them to know. There is a difference between telling and teaching, and as a teacher, I plan to teach. **


 * Lesson #: 1 **
 * Title of Lesson: ** Introduction to Weather and Climate!

This lesson will be an introduction to our next unit, Weather and Climate. Students are going to go on an online scavenger hunt to learn a bit about weather and climate!
 * Description of Lesson: **

· Using your handout and document, you are going to go on a scavenger hunt! · Write your answers on your handout
 * Assignment: **

· Check out the websites under the Weather and Climate unit websites under the Cool Websites of the Week link ·Write 4-5 sentences about your favorite and why you liked it
 * Homework: **

· Internet · Scavenger Hunt worksheet and handout Scavenger_Hunt.docx
 * Resources/Materials Needed: **


 * Technology Reflection: ** This lesson is a great use of technology because it is bringing something that kids have been doing for a long time into the 21st Century. A “scavenger hunt” is a fun way for kids to get an introduction to something new. Implementing the sources the internet provides us take it beyond what we have been able to provide in the past. With this, the students are receiving a far broader spectrum of information, even with a brief introduction than they otherwise would have available to them.

I think that using the Web resources will make this a lot more fun for the students. It was fun for me to make it, and that was all the hard work! I also think it is great that kids are starting to be able to navigate and see what the internet has to offer them. Another great thing about this lesson is that the students are getting to do something new and more exciting than having to look everything up in books; I think this is more stimulating and they will be more willingly engaged. Thus said, anytime kids are actively involved in their learning, they will learn more.
 * Evaluation: **


 * Lesson #: 2 **
 * Title of lesson: ** Cloudy with a Chance of…

We are looking at weather and climate in this lesson. Our goal is to learn to rely on our surroundings to know what kind of weather to expect, to recognize our climate and to learn about other types of weather.
 * Description of lesson: **

· Brainstorm ideas we have about “weather” and “climate” · Check out our school library for books relating to our brainstorm · Visit some cool weather sites! · Revisit our class blog, because this will be part of our homework
 * Assignment: **

· Pay attention to what you see the weather doing on the way home, playing after school, etc. · Log onto our class blog and write at least 5 sentences about what you noticed in today’s weather and what you thought the most interesting thing you learned about weather today was! · Leave at least one, one sentence comment on a friend’s post!
 * Homework: **

· Library books (school library) · Internet <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> o Blogspot.com (our class blog) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">· Internet <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> o Some fun learning sites… <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> o urbanext.illinois.edu/treehouse/ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> o weatherwizkids.com <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> o theweatherchannelkids.com <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> o scholastic.com/kids/weather
 * <span style="color: #8900ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Resources/materials needed: **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The use of technology in this lesson really helped the students to experience things firsthand that they would otherwise not have had an opportunity for. While they can read about and even experience the weather outside, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">the websites we looked at offered them the chance to see what weather they don’t see can do, and why. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The scholastic.com website allowed the students to “make their own” weather. It showed them what they were changing, as far as temperature and humidity. Then there was an animated showing of what type of weather they had created based on their adjustments with a description of what was happening. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Some of the other websites showed actual footage of severe weather. Others, particularly weatherwizkids.com, provided explanations of all aspects of weather, including all of the “what’s, why’s and how’s” about whatever they were researching. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Although the read information could be found in books, it was the navigation process and the fact that the exact same information would not be found elsewhere that gives importance to the technological aspect. However, without the technology we integrated into this lesson, the students were provided diverse opportunities which they otherwise could not have had. This also helped interactive learners, as well as those who don’t learn as well by simply listening or reading to gain a better understanding of weather and climate. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The last bit of technology I would like to integrate would be the blog. This would connect the students to each other even when out of class.
 * Technology reflection: **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I am concerned that I should put more into this lesson. At first I had a lot more involved in the lesson, but realized that I was making a lesson, not an entire day’s plan. I would be able to continue on, or add to a lesson the next day, right? I think it would be fun and beneficial to their comprehension to have the students give a presentation about weather. They could work in groups, or individually to create a project and share it with the class perhaps. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">However, I still worry that maybe they would not be getting enough out of this lesson? Granted, it is more of an introductory lesson, if that exists, and I think that it gave them a pretty solid foundation in regards to weather and climate. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Finally, I worry about the blog. I think it is a great way to integrate technology. Initially, I thought we could make our own weather journals, but then I remembered the blogs, and thought why not? Still, would this work? So long as we went over it in class and were already familiarized with it, and all the students had access to internet at home, I think it would be fine.
 * Evaluation: **


 * Lesson #: 3 **
 * Title of Lesson: ** The Beauty of Weather

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> In this lesson we are going to continue looking at weather. We are also going to start working with some Web Tools.
 * Description of Lesson: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Pick a weather topic <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">· Write a Haiku about it (we are going to use our new knowledge of Haiku Poems!) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Use a Web Tool to make a poster of your topic and poem! []
 * Assignment: ** [[image:4831f.jpg width="375" height="300" align="right" caption="4831f.jpg"]]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Research and write your own definition of "climate." This will get you a head-start on tomorrow's lesson!
 * Homework: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Internet [] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Homework <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">· Our minds basic word.docx
 * Resources/Materials Needed: **

With our implementation of technology in this lesson, we also get to see a new way to look at what we are learning. It is more exciting than just doing worksheets and reading, it is also more interactive because the kids (and parents!) are navigating and exploring beyond what they might otherwise be doing.
 * Technology Reflection: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> The use of technology allows parents and children to connect over what we are learning in class. Students are able to show their parents some of the ideas we are coming up with during class time. Sometimes, this works better than the kids trying to explain it, or providing one word answers about what they are learning or doing in school.

I am <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> really excited about this lesson, especially having the kids get involved with something that I had never even known about before now. I think it is a great way for kids to go beyond what they normally might do for homework, etc. I also feel that with parents getting to take extra time to look through something like this with their kids, rather than simply be sent home a handout, they are getting to be more involved with their kids and their schoolwork. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">I also think that something like this word document is really good for kids in my grade level, because it definitely something they can access and navigate, probably without help. They are able to be more independent, and they can actually show their families themselves!
 * Evaluation: **


 * Lesson #: 4 **
 * Title of Lesson: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">What does climate mean to me?

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> We will be looking at how climate relates to us, and what we know about climate.
 * Description of Lesson: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Explore what “Climate” means. We will also talk about what climate we have here and how we know this. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Look at climate changes both near us and around the world <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Make your own chart of climate! <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *We are going to be creating our own Web 2.0 Graphs! * []
 * Assignment: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Find one piece of evidence of climate change; come ready to talk about it in class!
 * Homework: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Class discussion <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Creativity <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Internet access
 * Resources/Materials Needed: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> I think it was a good way to do it because it goes beyond simply drawing or even creating a similar example through a word processor. Also, by using Web 2.0 Tools, my students get to learn new skills, which are probably more fun than doing it the “old” way, because they are creating something new and exciting in a more advanced way!
 * Technology Reflection/Changing the Learning Environment: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">I think this is a good idea for my lesson. The students will learn more about climate, but they will also develop their skills as 21st Century Learners. It is a kid-friendly process because the students will be able to navigate and create everything all on their own! This lesson is taking what students have been doing for years, and making it more future-friendly.
 * Evaluation: **


 * Lesson #: 5 **
 * Title of Lesson: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Weather Vs. Climate!

In this lesson we are comparing and contrasting weather and climate. We are also going to continue our work with Web Tools!
 * Description of Lesson: **

*Make a list of things that only relate to weather <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Do the same for climate <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Make a list of things that are the same for BOTH <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Put this all into a Web Tool! [] This is not a venn diagram! We are using our Web Tools to go beyond what we already know how to do!
 * Assignment **:

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Write one paragraph (5 sentences) about your favorite type of weather and why. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Use at least 5 words this week’s spelling word bank
 * Homework: **

*Minds and creativity! <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Internet []
 * Resources/Materials Needed: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"> This gives my students more practice with using Web 2.0 and getting involved in being 21st Century Learners. They are also getting more experience with manipulating the tools since they have to use a different style this time.
 * Technology Reflection/Changing the Learning Environment: **


 * Evaluation: ** Again, this will help my students develop as 21st Century Learners. I also am glad that I have been able to incorporate skills beyond science into this lesson. They are developing their literacy skills as well as their technological ones! I am also extremely happy with the Tool I found. I really liked the idea of a compare and contrast, and found a great tool to do so with, however I could not get it to work. After some more looking around, I came across this tool, and I love it! I can't wait for the students to use it because it is so much fun! I think they will have a lot more fun doing something new while still doing the same work they would be if I had them using a regular venn diagram.


 * Lesson #: 6 **


 * Title of Lesson: ** Weather and Climate Research Project

This lesson is the start of our research project. We are going to learn about being good researchers and eventually create a multimedia project to present our findings!
 * Description of Lesson: **

*Take a look at Tumblr to find out what we are doing! <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Also, look at the books posted from Shelfari in the Tumblr blog <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Choose some books from the library that are interesting to you, this will help you with your homework!
 * Assignment: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Do some research in order to get started on your topic *Come to class having chosen the topic you want to research
 * Homework: **

*Internet <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Library
 * Resources/Materials Needed: **

Presenting information via these medians, the students are being exposed to new technology. For some, this may be a revelation, it might be much easier for them to follow along with something online rather than listening or copying the information down, or even having a regular handout. Also, this is great because the kids are able to access it anywhere they can access internet. This also lets parents me more engaged with what the kids are doing, and lets both parents and students know what is expected of them! Finally, presenting information in this way is beneficial because I am able to alter it and I have the opportunity to compile much broader resources to best help my students!
 * Technology Reflection/Changing the Learning Environment: **

This will help my students to develop as 21st Century Learners. It is important for them to begin to adapt to seeing and using information presented in different forums. It will also show them that there are many more ways to get information than what they are used to or have been previously exposed to.
 * Evaluation: **

** Lesson #: 7 **

** Title of Lesson: ** Power Point and Presentation Tools

** Description of Lesson: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> We are going to be using Power Point and/or online presentation tools to create unique and creative presentations to share with our classmates! This is a more “free” assignment because there are a lot less guidelines for the students to follow.

** Assignment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Pick a topic <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">*To avoid too much of the same thing, we will have a sign-up sheet <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 35.25pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">*Some ideas…any sort of natural disaster, what causes it, a story about a natural disaster, follow someone else’s personal experience, etc.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Check out some online tools to see what you like best! (This link has some great options!) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Create your own presentation! (This one is the one I will be showing you in class)

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** Homework: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Get some ideas going; think about what you might want to do your presentation on <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Get started on a letter to one of Japan’s tsunami victims! We will work on these more in class later, but I would like to see a rough draft tomorrow!

** Resources/Materials Needed: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Internet <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Our creative, kind selves

** Technology Reflection/Changing the Learning Environment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> This is a great assignment! I am so excited for the kids to see that they can go beyond a poster board, and even beyond a regular Power Point presentation to express themselves! They are going to be mastering opportunities I was never even aware of until college. I also think they are going to have a lot of fun using technology in so many new and diverse ways!

** Evaluation: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> I would basically say the same thing I did above. With a project like this, the students are being immersed in new technology at an early age, and they are having fun while doing so. It is amazing to know that they are growing every day as 21st Century Learners and that the work they are doing is actually beneficial to them both in learning now, and in functioning in the real world later in life. With the skills they are gaining now, any new technological idea thrown at them down the road may not only be mastered by them, but very possibly engineered by them too.

** Lesson #: 8 **

**<span style="color: #8900ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Title of Lesson: ** Two for One! Take a Science Adventure and Learn a New Tech Skill All at Once!

**<span style="color: #8900ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Description of Lesson: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">In this lesson I am going to have the students make their very own podcasts, using Vocaroo, and am also going to give them an introduction to Global Warming with my own podcast.

**<span style="color: #8900ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Assignment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">*Listen to the podcast I already made about Global Warming <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">media type="file" key="Podcast Lesson Global Warming.m4a" width="300" height="50" <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">(This podcast is a mini-lesson on global warming!) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">*Make your own podcast about what you are doing or would like to do to help out with fixing the problems we face because of Global Warming

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Click here to listen to my podcast, made on Vocaroo, to find out just what you are going to be doing today!

** Homework: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">*Show your podcast to someone at home! You can have some fun making your own podcasts with your family and friends!

**<span style="color: #8900ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Resources/Materials Needed: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">*Internet

**<span style="color: #8900ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Technology Reflection/Changing the Learning Environment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">The kids are being provided the opportunity to really take their lessons beyond the classroom. I also think they might be more interested in the topic because of their level of interaction with it. This is eliminating the same old write a paragraph assignment and making it really come to life! Also, they are going to be using a very user-friendly program which will help eliminate frustrations and allow them to be more independent!

**<span style="color: #8900ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Evaluation: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.25pt; margin: 0in;">Again, the students are learning something that many people never have even known they could do themselves. I think they are going to be very interested in this one because they can have a lot of fun with it, and it won’t seem, to them, like they are doing a lot of work. However, they are still being required to put in the same effort they otherwise would if they were just writing, but they don’t actually have to get it down in words. Also, this could be a really great opportunity for kids who struggle with expressing their thoughts in writing!

** Lesson #: 9 **

** Title of Lesson: ** Write Your Story and Share It, Too!

** Description of Lesson: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> This lesson is a bit more creative. We are writing stories and turning them into Digital Stories. They can be true, or made up, so long as they follow the guidelines!

** Assignment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> *Write a story <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">*A true story of your own <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">*Make one up that relates to weather (Kippy the Wonder Dog is made up!) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> *Using Photo Story 3, create your own Digital Story <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">*You will need pictures to go along with your story (get these from the internet) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">*Music will be optional *Present your Digital Story to the class

Here is mine: media type="custom" key="9125604" // (This is the story of Kippy the Wonder Dog, a dog who survived a tornado, was lost, and made it home all on her own! In this story, we learn about the dangers of tornadoes, as well as where they occur, and what people do for safety in areas where tornadoes occur often.) //

** Homework: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> *Write your story

** Resources/Materials Needed: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> *Internet <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">*Photo Story 3

** Technology Reflection/Changing the Learning Environment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> I think that this will make things a lot of fun for the kids. They are still going to be thinking about weather, but they are, once again, provided the opportunity to learn in a different way than what they are used to. Creating Digital Stories is also expanding their ability to use technology. They are learning an entirely new skill, which they will be able to use for fun, for other assignments and classes, and for other future designs they may come up with.

** Evaluation: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> I am glad to be integrating some other curricular aspects (such as writing!) into this assignment. As I said above, I think this is a great opportunity because they are going to be learning something that will be useful to them in the future. I also think it will be a lot of fun for them to do! My students will also probably appreciate the fact that they are getting to do something so creative (read: fun) and different, while I will be very happy that they are still learning!

** Lesson #: 10 ** ** Title of Lesson: ** Wrap up

** Description of Lesson: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> This lesson involves working some more with Web 2.0 tools.

** Assignment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Using the Web 2.0 tools, each of you will make a set of flashcards, I will give you the words, you will provide your own, unique definition. This will serve as a study aid for you later on! <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">*This means you don’t copy and paste from the internet! Make sure your facts are correct, but that the definition makes sense for YOU. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">media type="custom" key="9163738" width="80" height="80"This is what the flashcard tool lets you do other than just look at flashcards! Try it out! : )

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Create your own comic! This is just for fun, pick a topic from our unit and make it into a comic! media type="custom" key="9161772"Here is a sample comic I made! ** Homework: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Define each of the words on the word list so you have it ready for our Web 2.0 work tomorrow!

** Resources/Materials Needed: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> · Internet

** Technology Reflection: ** This lesson brings back our knowledge of Web 2.0 tools. This is important because these tools can be used for so much, and are thus of great importance. This helps to reinforce what the students have learned prior to this lesson. Also, they are seeing that the tools can be highly beneficial to their studies, and can be fun at the same time. The tool we are using for flashcards offers multiple study ways, and provides a new way to learn, where the students are not simply writing things down.

I was glad to work some more with Web 2.0 tools. There are just so many options out there! Also, it was a great refresher for me! Web 2.0 tools are something that should really be integrated into education because they make learning fun and introduce a new way of learning. There are also an incredible variety of options available when using these tools.
 * Evaluation: **

** Lesson #: 11 **

** Title of Lesson: ** Movie time!

** Description of Lesson: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> In this lesson we are creating videos using Animoto. I plan for the videos to be pretty broad in range in regards to topics, but the concept is going to be the same. After learning so much about weather and climate, it is your turn to teach it!

** Assignment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Pick a topic to teach the class <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">*This is up to you, what has interested you the most in this unit? What would you love for others to learn more about? <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Research your topic <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Find out enough information so that you can teach someone about it <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Get pictures! 10-15 should be enough; you are welcome to do more if you choose! <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Create a podcast, like we did in lesson 8, using the information you have to teach us! <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Put everything into an Animoto project; here you will also be able to add text and music. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Save your presentation <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">*Get ready to teach the class and anyone else you want!

media type="file" key="Laura's Video Dub Conversion.mov" width="300" height="300" <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">This tool helps to really make sure that we understand a particular aspect of weather. It is really important because students are learning so much more than just the typical lesson would initially provide. Still, they are solidifying what they have learned from the unit. The presentation here shows the students what I would like them to do when they make their own presentation. It is really just an exemplar, however I also worked to make sure that it would keep the students engaged and interested throughout.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The presentation at the top of the page serves as more of a fun introduction to the unit itself. However, it is yet another example of what we can do using technology and tools such as Animoto.

** Homework: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Finish up on any research you didn’t get done in class

** Resources/Materials Needed: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Internet (Animoto) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> *Creativity and fun!

** Technology Reflection/Changing the Learning Environment: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> Students are able to actually “teach” others with what they have learned while learning more! This is going to help solidify what they already know from this lesson. While in the past they may have done something to this extent, this time they are using a new and exciting tool to do so! They will be more engaged because they are creating and doing something fun. Also, they are developing yet another technological skill. This is truly helping them along on their way to become 21st Century Learners. Animoto is something that is user friendly for just about anyone, and it utilizes a lot of technological aspects. It is so exciting that the kids are becoming familiar with such great technological opportunities. This is something practical that they can use often in their future.

** Evaluation: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> Animoto is additionally great for the students to use because there is not a lot of room for problems, the program is fairly straightforward, but it also offers plenty of room for creativity and expression. The students can make their presentation unique and even though they are teaching, they are learning too, even beyond what the focus of the lesson is.