Forces of Nature in Colorado
Grade Level: 9th-12th
Focus of Lesson: The purpose of the lesson is to reinforce skills learned previously in creating and manipulating spreadsheets and charts for use in processing, evaluating, organizing and presenting information. Another purpose is to gain experience in using online databases. Another (optional) purpose is to reinforce web page design and desktop publishing skills.
Students will access the Forces of Nature (http://www.dmns.org/co_forces/index_cfon.html) link from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Website and read and respond to information about: tornadoes, floods, lightening, hail, blizzards, avalanches, drought, wildfires, and earthquakes in CO. They will then access databases on the National Climatic Data Center site (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html) and the National Geophysical Data Center (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/).
Standard Assessed:
Colorado Information Literacy Standard 1: The information literate student accesses information efficiently and effectively.
Colorado Information Literacy Standard 2: The information literate student evaluates information critically and competently.
Colorado Information Literacy Standard 3: The information literate student uses information accurately and creatively.
Standard Addressed:
Colorado Model Content Reading and Writing Standard 1: Students read and understand a variety of materials.
Possible Procedures:
A 200 point portfolio assessment will be done of the following work:
1. Write a short story pretending they are a CO resident experiencing their weather choice (50 points if they have included all aspects of the weather as presented by the Forces of Nature Site http://www.dmns.org/co_forces/index_cfon.html).
2. Using National Climatic Data Center (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html) statistics about weather phenomena, practice manipulating the data by answering the questions on Worksheet # 1. 50 points.
3. Choose a final project from the Forces of Nature Final Project handout. 100 points.
Additional assignment for Web Page Design and Desktop Publishing upper classes:
4. Create a brochure or web page on the weather phenomenon that includes such information as causes, trends, and consequences. This must include pictures of the weather, and the spreadsheet and chart or database from assignment #1. (100 points). (Standard 3.1, 3.3., 3.4).
Time: five 50-minute class periods for questions #1-3, and possible another five class periods for question #4.
Materials/ Teacher Preparation:
1. Individual computers with Internet access running Microsoft Word and Excel software.
2. Worksheet #1 and Final Project handouts.
3. Handout showing a sample chart, and a handout showing a sample brochure (if necessary).
4. Three crucial websites: Denver Museum of Nature and Science Forces of Nature (http://www.dmns.org/co_forces/index_cfon.html), National Climatic Data Center (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html), and National Geophysical Data Center (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/)
Sharon Minick
Montbello High School
