Exploring The Weather Down Under

Created by: Becca M.

ePals Idea: Compare and contrast weather in Sydney, Australia

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Subject: Science

ACTIVITY OVERVIEW:

The goal for this activity is for my students to compare and contrast the weather in Sydney, Australia to our weather in Kent, Washington. My students will be doing this with the online platform, ePals, http://www.epals.com/#!/main. Prior to this activity, I will be setting up with another classroom in Sydney, and arranging details. My class and I will be connecting with a classroom from Sydney, Australia. Prior to connecting with our ePals classroom in Sydney, we will be learning about our seasons, and our weather in Kent, Washington. Therefore, my students will have prior knowledge with what happens in fall, winter, spring and summer. They will also have prior knowledge on different weather patterns, such as rainy, snowy, sunny, stormy, etc. In addition, before we start our ePals adventure, I will be reading a book to my students called, “On the Same Day in March” by Marilyn Singer. This book is a wonderful lead in book for this activity. My students will understand that on the same day in March, in some places around the world it may be cold and snowy, and in other places in the world, it may be hot and sunny. By reading the book to my students, I will be doing a process of previewing and understanding what my students know and what they have yet to learn.

ACTIVITY IN DETAILS:

1.) My students will connect with a classroom in Sydney, Australia to compare and contrast the weather.

2.) I will place my students in groups; I will have four students per group.

3.) My students will then be connecting with the classroom in Australia by using ePals. With prompting and support, I will be assisting students through the whole activity when needed.

4.) The first task is for my students to explain to the Australian students what season we are in. They will be using prior knowledge to retrieve this information. My students will then have to explain what the weather is like daily and weekly when we chat with our Australian classroom. They will also need to incorporate what degrees it is outside. As a whole class, I will be taking my students outside to look at our thermometer to determine what the temperature is outside.

5.) After each group has collected data, they will then create a document of their choice to explain and describe our weather we are experiencing. They will need to choose a document that allows them to display with pictures and some words. These documents could be, Kidpix, Power point, word document, or even making a video. They will then share their document with our Australian classmates over in Sydney. The same process will then be done with the classroom in Sydney.

6.) Throughout the school year, we will then continue to collaborate with our ePals in Sydney. We will start this process in November and we will continue this process once a week until March.

7.) After the children have discovered and learned about what season Sydney is in, and discovered what the weather is mainly like in Sydney, we will then compare and contrast Sydney weather with our weather here. The students will be able to share with the class the information that was given to them. Each group will have a chance to either share something that is similar or something that is different about Sydney’s weather and our weather.

8.) To deepen my students knowledge, besides sharing with the class a similarity or difference they discovered each week, I will also have each student keep a journal throughout this whole adventure. This journal will be called, “What’s the weather like?” In detail, this journal will consist of the children writing the date at the top of the page. On the left side, it will be labeled “Weather in Kent, Washington” and on the right side, it will be labeled, “Weather in Sydney, Australia.” The students will then draw a picture of what the weather is like in Kent that day and in Sydney that day. By keeping a journal, the students will have a visual representation of the weather similarities and differences.

9.) This process will continue weekly as the children will also be learning something new about the weather and how each season in Sydney is at a completely different time then our seasons.

TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS:

EALR 1- Component 1.1: Innovate: This standard is met in my activity by my students using a published program to construct their understanding to compare and contrast weather in Sydney.

EALR 1- Component 1.2: Collaborate: This standard is met in this activity by my students collaborating with other students in Sydney, Australia using the technology of ePals to communicate in a friendly manner to understand and express the similarities and differences in seasons and weather. As my students are in groups together they will also learn and get ideas from each other. They will also be sharing their ideas and discoveries with the Australian students.