"What Kind of Cloud Are You?

Objective:


Anticipatory Set:

Discuss how Cumulus clouds often change shapes and how you can often see pictures in them if you look at them close enough. Also discuss the types of weather we can expect when we see certain types of clouds.

Delivering Instruction/Model and Lead

Procedures:

The teacher will:
1. The teacher will first read the book The Cloud Book by Tomie De Paola which introduces the ten most common types of clouds, the myths that have been inspired by their shapes, and what they can tell about coming weather changes. The class will then discuss/review the following cloud facts:

HOW CLOUDS ARE FORMED Clouds are masses of water droplets or ice crystals that are suspended in the air. When the droplets or crystals become too heavy to remain suspended, they fall to the Earth. In order for clouds to form, three things are needed. First, the relative humidity must be close to 100 percent. Second, tiny bits of matter, such as dust, must be present. (Water collects or condenses around these particles.) Third, something must happen to cool the air. If all three conditions exist, clouds form. The type of clouds that form depends on how cold the air is and how much water is in the air. CLOUD SHAPES Just by studying a cloud's shape, a meteorologist can tell a great deal about the cloud. There are three basic kinds of clouds. Cirrus clouds are thin, feathery clouds. They are high in the sky. They are so high that they are made up of the ice particles. They are generally white or whitish in color. Cumulus clouds look like puffs of cotton piled in a heap. They are commonly known as fair-weathered clouds. They are usually nearer the earth than cirrus clouds. Stratus clouds are low, flat clouds. They are often dark and bring rain. "Alto" means "high". Altostratus clouds are higher than stratus clouds.

2. The teacher will then demonstrate some of the major features of the KidWorks Deluxe software:· How to start a book· How to insert text· How to illustrate your book (draw your own pictures, insert KidWorks pictures and stickers)· How to print a book· How to save a book

Guided Practice/Lead and Test

Checking for understanding (recognition to recall)

3. As a group, let the students in the class guide the teacher in writing a story about a cloud that changes into different shapes. Using an LCD projector, write the story using KidsWorks Deluxe and intentionally make some mistakes in grammar, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. As you are writing the story stress how important it is to proofread what you do and review some of the basic grammar rules. Show them how to edit mistakes. This would also be a good time to talk about some design concepts such as not putting too much on one page.

4. Let the students help choose illustrations for the story. Be sure to let all students have an opportunity to participate. Once the story is complete-read it back to the class. Independent Practice

5. After the children have read and discussed the information about clouds, have them write a composition about what type of cloud they would like to be. Provide a list of questions to help them put their composition together. Sample questions:· How were they formed?· What they look like?· Where are they located?· Are they a friendly or mean cloud? Allow a period of time for the students to "discover" KidWorks Deluxe. Then, instruct the students to write and illustrate their cloud story using KidWorks Deluxe. Remind the students to check for punctuation, grammar, capitalization and spelling. If there are not enough computers to go around, let the students first write their story on paper and then, take turns using available computers to create a book with illustrations. Also, have a collection of books about weather available for students to read when their projects/extension activity is completed.

6. Monitor students to save their own work.

7. Extension activity: After the students have completed their book, have them paint the cloud they described. When the painting is dry. The students can hang their paintings in the hall for display under a caption such as, "WHAT KIND OF CLOUD ARE YOU?".

Formative Evaluation

Evaluation:

The teacher will check correct and incorrect oral responses in the group activity. The teacher will check for the number of correct answers of the 10 items in the independent cloud activity document.

Criteria:

100% Mastery. The student will complete a storybook using KidWorks Deluxe with an organized beginning, middle and end which pertains to the central subject.
80% Mastery. The storybook created by the student will contain no more than four errors in grammar, capitalization, punctuation and, spelling.

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