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Introduction

Task

Process

Resources

Conclusion

Evaluation

Teacher
 Extraordinary Weather

 cloud
http://www.pics4learning.com




 Introduction

     This WebQuest was developed for the University of Northern Iowa's Middle Level Curriculum class.  Students will research tornadoes, hurricanes, and monsoons.  At the conclusion of the WebQuest the students will be able to describe where the weather disasters occur and what causes them.

Learners



     This WebQuest was created for eighth grade science class.  It focuses on science and math.
     To successfully use this WebQuest, students need to be able to navigate through webpages on the internet (provided in the Resource Page) to locate information.  It is helpful for them to have had some experience with spreadsheets in order to create a graph.

Curriculum Standards

Math Standard 6: Understands and applies basic and advanced concepts of statistics and data analysis

  • Benchmark 4: Reads and interprets data in charts, tables, plots (e.g., stem-and-leaf, box- and-whiskers, scatter), and graphs (e.g., bar, circle, line)

  • Benchmark 6: Organizes and displays data using tables, graphs (e.g., line, circle, bar), frequency distributions, and plots (e.g., stem-and-leaf, box-and-whiskers, scatter)

  • Benchmark 8: Understands that the same set of data can be represented using a variety of  tables, graphs, and symbols and that different modes of representation often convey different messages (e.g., variation in scale can alter a visual message)

Science Standards 1: Understands atmospheric processes and the water cycle

  • Benchmark 3: Knows that the Sun is the principle energy source for phenomena on the Earth’s surface (e.g., winds, ocean currents, the water cycle, plant growth)

  • Benchmark 6: Knows ways in which clouds affect weather and climate (e.g., precipitation, reflection of light from the Sun, retention of heat energy emitted from the Earth’s surface)

Resources

     All of the resources that this WebQuest uses are internet sites, and are listed on the Resource Page. 
     Only one teacher is needed for the students to successfully complete this WebQuest.  The students will be spending the majority of the time working individually or in pairs on the internet.  They will also use a spreadsheet program (such as Microsoft Excel) to create a graph, and a composition program (such as Microsoft Word) to write an article.

Evaluation

     Students will be evaluated on their article, graph, and participation.  They will be evaluated using the rubric found on the Evaluation Page.


Conclusion

     At the conclusion of the WebQuest, students will have a better understanding of tornadoes, hurricanes, and monsoons.  They will know where these weather forms occur, and the causes of these types of weather, including sun and cloud effects.  Students will also have experience working with spreadsheets to create tables and graphs.