Kinds of Weather And What to Wear

Margaret Ann Thornton          Cardenas Elementary School
                               1234 South Millard Avenue.
                               Chicago IL 60623
                               312-762-0900

Objectives:

After each demonstration, the student should be able to
     1.  recognize cloud, and fog formation;
     2.  recognize the characteristics of rain, snow and wind;
     3.  determine dress attire for each kind of weather;
     4.  make a weather book.

Materials needed:

portable burner                a jar
pan of water                   warm water
ice cubes to cover the tray    matches
plastic tray                   a sheet of black paper  
an electric fan                cut white paper
raincoat                       snowsuit
umbrella                       snow boots
galoshes                       mittens
hat                            manuscript paper
paper fasteners                construction paper             
crayons

Suggested Strategy: 

     Take the jar and tape black paper on the back of the jar.  You can't see 
through the jar.  Fill one third of the jar with warm water.  Have the bag of 
ice and matches nearby.  Light the match and hold it over the jar opening.  
After a few seconds, drop the match in the jar and cover the top of the jar with 
the bag of ice.  Observe the inside of the jar against the black paper 
background. 

     While bringing the pan of water to a boil, cover at least half of the 
plastic tray with ice.  Hold the tray of ice above the pan so rising steam hits 
the tray of ice.  What happens to the tray?  Continue holding the tray until 
large droplets form and fall.  It's rain. 

     Turn on an electric fan and proceed to pour cut white paper in front of the 
fan.  This shows some characteristics of snow.  Incidentally, a German 
meteorologist, a scientist who studies the atmosphere and weather, discovered 
cold clouds.  The discovery found that when water and ice coexist, the water is 
attracted to the ice.  At certain temperatures, snow is formed. 

     With cut paper streamers taped to the front of an electric fan, turn the 
fan on.  Wind is characterized. 

     With an appropriate wardrobe of clothing, students will model the proper 
attire for a given kind of weather. 

Performance Assessment:

     Given a weather phrase, student will brainstorm short stories.  After 
brain-storming, the student will expand phrase into a complex sentence.  The 
student will write an ending sentence to a short story. 

     In the space provided at the top of the manuscript paper, the student must 
draw story illustrations.  The main idea must be emphasized with a variety of 
details.  All pictures must be colored. 

     Given construction paper, the student will make a cover page depicting an 
illustration of a favorite weather story, the title of a weather book, and 
proper identification. 

     All stories are organized and fastened onto cover page for completion of a
weather book. 

                     The Assessment Scoring Rubric

5 Points

    The weather book completed with at least five stories with the appropriate 
illustrations, colorful cover page and the proper identifying information 
written at the bottom of the page. 
    Given phrases should be expanded in complex sentences.  All other sentences 
should be details or related to the main idea.  The final ending sentence should 
tell how the subject feels.  All illustrations must be colored. 

4 Points

     The weather book is completed with a minimum of four stories with the 
appropriate illustrations, colorful cover page and the proper identifying 
information. 

3 Points

     The weather book consists of two completed stories, illustrations, cover 
page and illustrations. 

2 Points

     The weather book consists of colorful cover page, incomplete stories and 
identification. 

1 Point

     Trial and error.

0 Points

     No participation.