Weather and Climate: From Home to the Poles, the fourth issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears cyberzine, provides content knowledge, lesson plans, and resources about weather and climate, the weather and climate of the polar regions, and climate change. Through hands-on investigations of these phenomena and content area reading, students develop science vocabulary. The fourth issue includes compelling images from both the Arctic and Antarctica as well as engaging stories and high-quality content. Some of the issue's highlights are:
Science and Literacy Lessons: This article highlights lessons that integrate literacy skills with a study of weather and climate.
Math integration: This article describes how science lessons about weather can fulfill data analysis standards in the math curriculum.
Expository articles for students: The issue has versions for K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. At each grade level, the article is available in three formats: text-only, a printable, foldable book, and an electronic book with audio files. This feature allows students to listen to the article as they read the text on-screen. Related lessons and activities accompany the articles.
Virtual Bookshelf: Selected children’s literature with ideas for classroom use and recommended grade levels. Written by a children’s librarian.
Misconceptions and Formative Assessment probe: In addition to listing common student misconceptions, this article includes a formative assessment probe (pdf file) that can be used to assess student ideas. The probe follows the model used by Page Keeley and others in the three volumes of Uncovering Student Ideas in Science (NSTA Press).
Teaching and Assessment Strategies: Learn how to create a weather station, meet the Science and Technology standard, and use a Flash activity to assess student knowledge of weather instruments.
Find these and other professional development articles, lesson plans, and more in Issue Four of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears!