ITV
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Wisconsin Model Academic Standards Addressed |
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| E.4.5 | Describe the weather commonly found in Wisconsin in terms of clouds, temperature, humidity, and forms of precipitation, and the changes that occur over time, including seasonal changes |
| B.4.1 | Use encyclopedias, source books, texts, computers, teachers, parents, other adults, journals, popular press, and various other sources, to help answer science-related questions and plan investigations |
Brief Description of the Program:
This program is an extremely useful source. Hosted by Spencer Christian, Weather Fundamentals: Clouds, is an explanation of what clouds are along with different types of clouds and their association with other weather phenomena.
In this fast paced program, students will learn not only by direct teaching of what clouds are but also through graphics, real life stories and experimentation. While Spencer Christian is the host he is not the only one talking. At one time a young girl, about the age 11 or 12, comes to help out with explanations about clouds. Other times the video shows someone who uses special equipment to increase precipitation. And still other times the video shows an experiment, which students could do in their own classroom, step by step.
Credibility/Content/Reasoning:
Weather Fundamentals: Clouds is a very informational video protrayed in a fun and real life way. The content contained in this video relates very closely with the weather unit and what the students will be learning not only in the cloud lesson but also in the unit as a whole.
While this video is very beneficial, it is also crucial to know the class you are teaching and the abilities of the students who are watching the video. There are times when the video goes very fast and leaves not a lot of time for students to review what they are learning. It would be good if students had some background on clouds on which they could build when learning this information. Also, the way it is presented I would say that early seventh grade would be the cut off for use of this video because they would possibly see it as too childish later on.
Lesson Use
Class Preparation:
The teacher will prepare the students by asking them about things they notice when they are outside. Students will first share in small groups what they think about when they think about the outdoors and then a class list will be compiled. The teacher will guide the discussion to they clouds they see. If weather permits students will then go outside for about ten minutes to observe the clouds, taking notes and drawing sketches as well.
Upon returning to the classroom the teacher will ask the students to share what they saw. A class list will be made of the observations. Once all the students have had a chance to share the teacher will pose the question about how clouds form and how they could make a cloud as a class. This will lead them into watching the video on clouds.
Viewing Details:
Depending on time, for not only the one lesson but also the unit, the whole video can be shown to the class. It all builds into everything and so would be most beneficial to the students to see all of it. However, if necessary for time two segments could be shown.
The first segment describes the three main types of clouds. Pictures accompany the spoken and written words on the screen. Once the three main types are introduced other types of clouds, combinations, are introduced. Students are able to see what each type of cloud looks like, the weather they are associated with, and what the name, which is in latin, means.
The second segment describes and shows step by step the process of making a cloud in the classroom. This experiment would provide a good basis for introducing this activity for the students so that the class could do this experiment as well.
Post Viewing Interactions:
When the video is finished the teacher will have the students talk in small groups reviewing the types of clouds. Once students have had a few minutes to share that information with each other the teacher will guide a class discussion about the different cloud types, the history behind the names, and the weather associated with each. The following day the students will participate in making a cloud.
Last Updated December 9, 2004
Questions? Contact royceek@uwec.edu