Weather News Segment PBL (5 student job packets, 25 lesson plans)
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Description
Project Description:
Check out our final product: 3rd- Grade Student-run Weather Report
In this project, students engage in investigation and observation of the weather to create a student run weather forecast. They work together as a group to collect data, research weather patterns, temperature, make observations of local weather and weather related news. Students reflect and engage in conversations about how weather impacts our daily lives. Students consider factors such as how we should prepare for different kinds of weather including how we should dress, and safety measures we should take before and during different weather events. Students investigate weather events related to their specific area, define weather vocabulary terms, create weather related experiments to explain local weather events and report their findings in creating a video to inform others.
This project may be completed in a few weeks with a focus on a specific season, or may be spread out across a semester or entire school year to capture more variability in weather conditions.
Final Product(s):
Students use what they learn about weather to create a print, digital or video to share with their class, school, community or the world. Each student completes a job that will become a section of the final presentation. Their jobs include a visual and written description related to weather. Students are required to use 2 sources, report facts, cite sources and will get their stories approved by the teacher before reporting. Students MUST keep their audience in mind in choosing stories to report on. If it doesn’t interest them, it won’t interest their audience.
Considerations:
•What types of weather are common in your local area at different times of the year?
•Consider connecting with a local meteorologist.
•What other professionals can share how they deal with local weather?
•What tools or resources are available to help students collect weather data (thermometers, rain gauges, digital weather station…)
•What technology tools will be helpful in researching the weather?
•How can we keep ourselves, family, school and our community safe during extreme weather?
•What types of weather and natural disasters happen in our area?
Type of Project: Simulation/ real student run
News Program
Driving Question: How does a newscast help us communicate with one another? How does weather affect our daily lives?
Tangible Outcomes: Student Newscast Program- Weather Segment
Timeframe: This project is designed to take 2 weeks but may be extended over a longer time period) We produce a new broadcast every 2 weeks for the entire school year.
Materials Needed: Video camera, laptops, PowerPoint, projector, tripod, iPad, lanyards, video creation tool such as iMovie, segment props. This can be adapted as an individual or group presentation.
Context: Students will create a student weather segment to share with the world. Students will complete literature circle type jobs with the end product of a news segment that can be a part of the student news program. The weather news segment includes Weather Word Nerd, Meteorologist, Digital Weather Editor, Weather Scientist and Severe Weather Reporter.
Student voice and choice: Students can be assigned a role for the newscast or they can choose a role. They will get to choose the story/topic/issue they will research and report out on under their job description.
Adult World Connection: Meet with community members including school staff and students as the “experts” for their segments. Connect with business leaders in the community. Visit a newsroom and take a tour. Interview a news anchor.
Content Standards: These can be adapted for any grade.
ELA: RI.3.1, RI.3.5, RL.3.10, RF.3.3, RF.3.4, W.3.2, W.3.7, L.3.2
Math: 3.NBT.A.2, 3.OA.D.9, 3.OA.D.8, 3.OA.A.3, 3.OA.B.5
Science: 3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS2-2, 3-ESS3-1
Universal Constructs: 21.3-5.ES.1 , 21.3-5.ES.2, 21.3-5.ES.5
Lesson Ideas:
Before:
Lesson 1: Real Or Hoax
•Lesson 2: Narrow A Web Search
•Lesson 3: Is It Newsworthy?
•Lesson 4: Newscast Look Fors
•Lesson 5: Name Your News
•Lesson 6: Design A Logo
•Lesson 7: Design A Slogan
During: Reading A Non-Fiction Text
Text Features
Asking and Answering Questions Using Textual Evidence
Informational Writing
Research Strategies
Using Graphic Organizers To Collect Notes During Research
Using Notes To Write A Summary
Grammar
Informative writing/ research lessons included:
•Lesson 8: Select A Topic
•Lesson 9: Research Question
•Lesson 10: Subtopics
•Lesson 11: Sources
•Lesson 12: Jot Notes
•Lesson 13: Note taking
•Lesson 14: News Headline
•Lesson 15: Hook Your Audience
•Lesson 16: Introduce Your Topic: Introduction Paragraph
•Lesson 17: Subtopic Paragraphs
•Lesson 18: Conclusion Paragraph
•Lesson 19: 1st Draft
•Lesson 20: Editing Checklist
•Lesson 21: Final Draft
•Lesson 22: Newscast Storyboard
•Lesson 23: Group checklist
•Lesson 24: Individual Checklist
•Lesson 25: Exit Tickets
Checklists: (included)
Individual Newscast Checklist, Editing Checklist/Peer Editing
Group Newscast Checklist, Newscast Storyboard
Exit Tickets: Newscast Notes
Suggested Timeline: 2 weeks
Learning Outcomes:
1.Digital Citizenship: I can identify a credible source, cite sources and narrow a web search.
2.Research Strategies: I can safely search the web. I can use multiple sources in my research.
3.Collaboration: I can collaborate with my peers to create a student new program.
4.Real World Math Connections: I can find real world examples of the math skills I’m learning about.
5.Reading Informational Text: I can read an informational text.
6.Fact & Opinion: I can understand the difference between fact and opinion. I can report using facts.
7.Speaking & Listening: I can communicate respectfully with my group members.
8.Technology: I can use technology to research and present my findings. I can produce a digital product to communicate my news story.
9.Writing: I can write an informational, persuasive or opinion piece to share my news story. I can summarize my research.
10.Grammar: I can use proper grammar and spelling in my writing.
Suggested Helpful Resources:
New-O-Matic (available as an iPad app and online). This is a great student current event, daily digital newspaper resource with stories that are happening in our world today and written for students. Each daily edition includes 5 news articles with a wide range of topics including animals, sports, politics, and current events.
Newsela: This is a great resource with multiple topics and news stories that can be filtered by lexile, grade level and topic. Students just need to pay attention to the dates on the news stories because some stories are not currently happening.
Both resources offer comprehension type quizzes, the option to save articles and highlight options within each resource. As a teacher, you can create student accounts and link them to a Google Classroom or Seesaw account for quick access. Credits:
Graphics- Educlips and Thistle Girl Designs
Science Posters and Graphic Organizers
32 Weather Science Experiments
Math Is Everywhere News Segment
Histories Mysteries News Segment (Current Events)
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Happy Teaching:)
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