WEATHER PREPAREDNESS

Hello everyone!

I hope you are doing well! The year feels like it is flying by! I can't believe that PSSA testing is almost here. As a reminder, in 8th grade, students take the science PSSA. This year, the science PSSA is all new. It will have 25% Earth Science, 25% Life Science, 25% Physical Science, and 25% Technology Education. I have not required students to do IXL to practice for the PSSA, but students can use the IXL lessons posted on my Schoology course to help refresh their knowledge in any subject area they don't feel comfortable with.

WHERE WE ARE:

For the past two weeks, we focused on many weather-related factors. Check out some of the demonstrations we did in class on my Instagram page: www.instagram.com/sciencewithsilverwood.

This week, we had our Watching the Weather class discussion to finalize the Watching the Weather project, where students were making daily observations (without technology) of the sky conditions, temperature, humidity, wind speed/direction, and precipitation. We discussed weather patterns and trends they noticed over the past three weeks, and many students had great things to contribute to the discussion! They probably never focused that much on the weather before!

We have been looking at Weather Maps & Symbols as well. Students worked with partners on reading and analyzing different types of weather maps (some from a newspaper, some from the National Weather Service). They had a mini-quiz on this, and now we are looking at Severe Weather.

WHERE WE ARE GOING:

Students will be introduced to their Weather Preparedness - PSA Project as we move into Severe Weather. Students can work independently or in groups of up to 3 people for their severe weather public service announcement. Students will research one of five possible severe weather events (a tornado, hurricane, flood, drought, or blizzard) and give a 3-minute, no more than 5-minute presentation on their event, providing details on how to stay safe and be prepared for their event. Students will receive the rubric, be introduced to the project tomorrow (4/11), and have three full work days in class to complete their project. They can create a video, podcast, brochure, or slide presentation. Next week, students will present. After the presentations, we will move into the final part of our Weather & Climate unit. We'll focus on the difference between weather and climate, climate zones, and climate change.

BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF A GROUP'S PSA PROJECT FROM 2 YEARS AGO:

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me (curtis_silverwood@conestogavalley.org) or follow Science With Silverwood on Instagram (@sciencewithsilverwood).

Thank you,

Mr. Silverwood