Predicting the Weather

1. Going to the concert tomorrow? Predicting the Weather A Facts Design Production Don’t know might rain.

2. Can you predict the weather? • Weather predictions are very important when making critical decisions. • Farmers decide when to plant and maintain their crops. • Promoters of outdoor events also use weather predictions when deciding whether to schedule events. • Satellite images help track weather conditions.

3. ABC Promoters • Established in 1998 • Guru’s in event planning • Primarily in outdoor concerts • CEO “DJ Teach’em”

4. The Challenge • Hired by ABC promoters • To predict whether they should proceed in scheduling their outdoor concert. • Your conclusion will be instrumental in ensuring the maximum number of attendees and profit. =

5. Problem Solving Organizing Problem • “Can you predict the weather and inform ABC promoters whether they should proceed in scheduling their outdoor concert?” • Gather and analyze • recent satellite images • communicate valid conclusions • using graphs, maps, or charts

6. General Problem-Solving Strategies • Deduction- observing for logical patterns/trends, cause and effect, calculate conclusions • Induction- collect relevant information (satellite images, historical geological data),tabulate date, identify cause and effect, test theory

7. Knowledge • Disciplinary processes • collecting • analysis • note taking • researching • recording • identifying • categorizing • presenting • Disciplinary structures • different images • color • patterns • size • conclusion

8. Knowledge Disciplinary discourse • Narrative – Show students a 30 minute episode of Storm Chasers, Presentation on interpreting satellite images, YouTube videos, introduction to http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/index.htm website • Expository – theories of forecasting weather, altitude, fronts, air pressure, cold front, temperature(Fahrenheit/Celsius), twister, hurricane

9. Authentic Activities • Determine contact person at ABC promoters. • Construct timeline. • Review and familiarize themselves with possible concert locations. • Assign roles within weather predicting group. • Submit all role assignments to the contact person at ABC promoters. • Research weather satellite images. • Create charts, graphs or maps to categorize and analyze. • Formulate weather prediction that optimizes attendance and profit.

10. Background Building Activities: • Research and familiarize themselves with reading timestamps on satellite images. • View online videos of best weather predicting process. • Complete simulations (game). http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/index.htm • Read current science textbook sections related to weather. • Observe local weather stations. • Research concerts with most attendance and identify the weather conditions.

11. Constructing Activities • Sketch a drawing of the current weather conditions • Create a chart of the current weather data collected • Discuss in oral or written fashion the possible affects • Create a presentation (PowerPoint) of their first level data analysis • Schedule a preliminary meeting with the CEO of ABC promoters. • Present their first level analysis to the CEO • Convince the CEO that the team will gather the necessary data to make an educated prediction that will optimize the attendance and profit of the outdoor event.

12. Sharing Activities • Discuss finding within weather predicting group. • Construct multimedia presentation. • Present prediction to entire class.

13. Contents • TEKS • http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148 • Science, Grade 5 TEA Texas Education Agency

14. Tools • Internet • Video (You Tube) • Simulations (game) http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/index.htm • Textbooks • Television

15. Assessments Rubric Weather Prediction (Points): • 4 - Formulates prediction based on data and provides supporting evidence for the prediction. • 2 - Formulates prediction based on data, but fails to show any evidence for the prediction. • 1 - Formulates a prediction that is not supported by data. • 0 - Fails to reach a prediction.

16. Assessments Cooperative Learning (Points): • 4 - The student is receptive and values the opinion of others. • 3 - The student is receptive but it is not evident that he/she values the opinion of others. • 2 - The student is receptive but does not value the opinion of others. OR The student values the opinion of others but does not listen to them. • 0 - The student is not receptive and does not value the opinion of others.

17. Assessments Final Conclusion Product (Points): • 6 - The prediction was determined based on data analysis and the results of the analysis were displayed in appropriate formats. • 4 - The prediction was determined based on data analysis but the results of the analysis were displayed in inappropriate formats. • 2 - The result does not show evidence that the prediction was based on data analysis however the prediction was displayed in appropriate formats. OR The prediction was determined based on data analysis but lacked evidence of the analysis. • 0 - The product shows no evidence of analysis

18. Environment • Divided into groups of four (4) • Ensure that the groups are even • Draw numbers to create groups. Etc group 1, group 2, group 3... • Classroom seating will be arranged into small conference sections to facilitate the need of collaboration.

19. Piece of cake! Any questions? We’ve got this!

20. Credits/Sources • Images • http://www.weather.gov/ • http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/?CTT=97 • http://gimp-savvy.com/PHOTO-ARCHIVE/ • http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/weathernot/weathernot.html • http://www.edheads.org/activities/weather/index.htm