Weather is a system Unit

Differentiated Activities Unit on Weather

Science and Information Skills Standards Addressed:

  • Build an understanding of weather and climate.
  • Analyze the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and ground water.
  • Analyze the formation of clouds and their relation to weather systems.
  • Relate global atmosphere movement patterns to local weather.
  • Compile weather data to establish climate trends.
  • Evaluate oceans’ effects on weather and climate.
  • (Additional information skills assess are listed on p. 21 of the text but omitted here for the sake of space).

Specifics of this assignment within the integrated unit are on pages 19-61 of Differentiation in Practice A Resource Guide For Differentiating Curriculum reference below

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FIRST ASSIGNMENT

Item to note: This assignment was a homework assignment that was given after general class instruction of the concept of cause and effect. It required all students to think about the impact of cause and effect in their OWN lives, but allowed them to choose how they would show this impact, thus differentiating by learning profile or interest.

Assignment:

A differentiated homework assignment, self-selected according to learning profile. The students’ assignment is to tell about a time in their own lives when they experienced or witnessed a cause-and-effect relationship. They are to choose one of the following formats: short story, poem, song or rap, cartoon, collage, or detailed drawing.

Second Assignment:

Individual assignment based upon readiness and learning profile. This assignment was given after class discussion, guided practice, and student grouping working with the concepts of air pressure, reinforcement of cause and effect, predicting weather patterns, and working with maps.

The students were provided with the opportunity to choose between one of two articles. One article was a discussion of air pressure and the other a discussion of barometer reading (details are on p. 33). They then had to choose one assignment that dealt with one of the articles to complete as homework.

Assignment 1: What is Air Pressure?

The students read the selection on air pressure and choose one activity from below:

  • Create a diagram that shows the movement of cool and warm air to someone who cannot read. Be sure that the relationship between this movement and our unit concept of cause and effect is clear.
  • Take the key information from the reading and create a quiz. Include questions related to our concept of cause and effect. Be sure that you include an answer key on a separate page.

Assignment 2: Using a Barometer.

The students read the selection and chose one activity from below:

  • You are a barometer. Write a letter to a thermometer explaining why you are the better of the two. Point out any cause and effect relationships you perceive. Be sure to make a strong case for yourself.
  • Create an illustration or diagram that explains how barometers work and what they measure. Be sure to make clear any cause and effect relationships you perceive. Your diagram must clearly explain the process to someone who cannot read.

Tomlinson, C.A. & Eidson, C.C. (2003). Differentiation in Practice A Resource Guide For Differentiating Curriculum. (pp. 20-61). ASCD