I. Curricular Framework

Concept:

Classification

Essential Question:

How is it possible for people to predict the weather by watching the clouds?

Bridge:

Observation Sketches

Content:

Study of Clouds

Outcomes:

II. Standards Aligned

III. Instruction and Assessment

1. Connect: Connecting to the Concept Experientially

Objective: To hook students into thinking about different cloud types.

Activity: Class goes outside to lie on backs and observe clouds. Teacher reads cloud-related poem.

Assessment: Quality of participation.

2. Attend: Attending to the Connection

Objective: To allow students to discuss/describe what they observed.

Activity: In small groups, students sketch and describe different cloud types observed.

Assessment: Quality of sketches and discussion.

Assessment, Phase One, Level of Engagement, Fascination:

3. Image: Creating a Mental Picture

Objective: To use another medium to express observations.

Activity: On sky blue chart paper, students mount their cloud sketches to create a class cloud collage.

Assessment: Quality of collage.

Assessment, Phase Two, Seeing the Big Picture:

4. Inform: Receiving Facts & Knowledge

Objective: To teach concept of weather type related to cloud type.

Activity: Read and discuss text section on cloud types in large group.

Assessment: Quality of discussion and participation.

Assessment, Phase Three, Success with Acquiring Knowledge:

5. Practice: Developing Skills

Objective: To reinforce concept just taught.

Activity: Answer questions at end of text section and do accompanying worksheet with partner.

Assessment: Quality of answers to questions.

Assessment, Phase Four, Success with Acquiring Skills:

6. Extend: Extending Learning to the Outside World

Objective: To extend learning.

Activities:

1. Working in a group, use a mural format to represent could types with associated weather.
2. After researching, create violent storms spawned by appropriate cloud types.
3. Using polyfill, create cloud types on mini posters and label with name of cloud and kind of weather it produces.
4. Create your choice of weather background, then attach appropriate cloud of your creation to the background.

Assessment: Appropriate weather with cloud types.

7. Refine: Refining the Extension

Objective: To enhance presentation of projects.

Activity: Students invent or use recorded sound effects/music to accompany presentation of cloud types they have created.

Assessment: Quality of participation.

8. Perform: Creative Manifestation of Material Learned

Objective: To share and celebrate projects.

Activity: Students present their cloud types, accompanied by the "sounds" of the weather related to cloud types.

Assessment: Quality of presentation.

Assessment, Phase Five,Performance, Creative Use of Material Learned: