WEATHER AHEAD

I hope you are all doing well! We've had a lot going on this past month between snow days, 2-hr delays, Firefly testing, and fitting in all our content for the Natural Hazards unit. BUT we aren't too far behind schedule, even with these interferences! So, let's take a look at where we were, where we are, and where we are going next!

Where We Were

We wrapped up our Natural Hazards unit, which focused on tsunamis as our anchoring phenomenon. Over the past couple of weeks, students dug into how tsunamis form, the damage they can cause, and how communities prepare for and respond to them. We ended the unit this week with our Save the City engineering and design project. Students took on the role of engineers, city planners, and emergency managers. Each group was assigned a fictional coastal community facing the threat of a major tsunami. Their challenge was to study their city’s geography, identify who and what was most at risk, and design a protection plan that balanced engineering, safety, and a strict budget.

Students analyzed real tsunami data, explored natural and man-made protective structures, and compared different strategies communities use around the world. As the project progressed, they built models of their cities showing where their protections would go and how evacuation routes and warning systems would work. Event cards added unexpected challenges that forced groups to rethink, revise, and improve their plans, just like real engineers responding to changing conditions.

To wrap up, students pulled everything together in a final proposal explaining how their design would reduce risk before, during, and after a tsunami. This project blended science, engineering, creativity, and teamwork, and the quality of their work showed just how deeply they understood the connections between natural hazards and community safety.

Below are some images from the week:

Where We Are

We’re starting our Weather & Climate unit on Tuesday, and Mr. Roberto will be taking the lead on teaching it. This is one of my favorite units because it pulls together clear visuals, demos, and real atmospheric processes in a way that clicks for students. We’ll begin by introducing our new driving phenomenon and reviewing some basic physics ideas that set the stage for weather: phase changes, energy transfer, uneven heating, and the water cycle. This is a large unit; it will have some quizzes and other assessments, as well as a unit test. There are also two large projects that students will do.

Where We Are Going

As we move deeper into the unit, we’ll explore cloud formation, precipitation types, air pressure, winds, and severe weather. There are several hands-on demos built into this unit so students can actually see how the atmosphere behaves. Students will also begin a three-week weather observation project called Watching the Weather, which will end with a class discussion comparing patterns and trends. It always amazes me how this class discussion goes, because it shows students how the observations they make connect to all the concepts we will learn over the next few weeks.

QUICK NOTE: Monday’s (2/9) High School Trip

On Monday morning, we’ll be heading to the high school to meet the counselors, learn about course selection, and get a better sense of what to expect next year.

• Students should bring a charged iPad and wear a coat, jacket, or sweater for the walk over.

• They should also check their email so they know which room to report to when dismissed during advisory.

If you have any questions or want to connect further, please feel free to reach out at curtis_catwood@conestogavalley.org. You can also follow our classroom adventures on Instagram at @classwithcatwood, where I share updates and snapshots of what we’re learning.

Stay Gold,

Mr. Catwood