Extreme Weather

Introduction

Welcome Weather Wizards!

Each of you in your team are now extreme weather meteorologists that have been assigned a task to solve a problem! The problem is that William Weather needs a home to live in, problem is that he needs a home that is protected from all types of weather.

In teams of four you will each be assigned a different extreme weather to research. There will be a Blizzard Expert, a Tornado Specialist, a Hurricane Researcher and a Tsunami Scientist. Once you have decided on each role it will be your job to use this Webquest to find out how to protect yourself and the environment from your extreme weather. After you have researched your extreme weather, the groups will come back together to put your individual knowledge of your extreme weather to the test!

Task

This WebQuest will have you work collaboratively with a group as well as individually to explore different types of extreme weather and use this knowledge to create a model at the end of your research. Here are the directions for the task completion:

1. In a group of four students, choose your role: Blizzard Expert, Tornado Expert, Hurricane Researcher or Tsunami Scientist (only one person for each role!)

2. Research your extreme weather by following the links on the Process page and by answering the guided questions by creating a weather report that you will report back to your group.

3. Construct a model of the ultimate safe house with your group incorporating all of the research from each extreme weather report.

Process

Evaluation

	Needs Improvement 1	Fair 2	Good 3	Excellent 4	Score
Individual Performance Extreme Weather Report	Provides two or less ways to prevent damage from extreme weather and contains errors.	Provides two to three ways to prevent damage from extreme weather, with some errors in prevention.	Provides three to four ways to prevent damage from extreme weather, with only minor error.	Provides four or more ways to prevent damage from extreme weather that are all factual and accurate.
Group Performance Model Safe House	Not involved in group work and did not participate.	Not very involved in group collaboration, is hands off. Evidence of work is there.	Involved in the group piece with minor complications. Evidence of participation is there.	Respectful and collaborates in group setting. Evidence of participation is there.

Needs Improvement 1

Fair 2

Good 3

Excellent 4

Score

Individual Performance

Extreme Weather Report

Provides two or less ways to prevent damage from extreme weather and contains errors.

Provides two to three ways to prevent damage from extreme weather, with some errors in prevention.

Provides three to four ways to prevent damage from extreme weather, with only minor error.

Provides four or more ways to prevent damage from extreme weather that are all factual and accurate.

Group Performance

Model Safe House

Not involved in group work and did not participate.

Not very involved in group collaboration, is hands off. Evidence of work is there.

Involved in the group piece with minor complications. Evidence of participation is there.

Respectful and collaborates in group setting. Evidence of participation is there.

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing your WebQuest! Please be prepared to hand your teacher the following:

An Extreme Weather Report for each group member
A Model of the Safe House for each group

Be prepared to present your work to the class and compare your model with other groups.

Teacher Page

This WebQuest was designed for third grade science using the Next Generation Science Standards. The goal for this assignment was to meet the standard shown on the introduction page which allows students to research, problem solve and create a model. While this assignment is abstract it allows for students to be creative and not restricted in anyway when designing the model. This WebQuest has students working alone as well as with groups in order for a teacher to be able to fully assess each student's learning and understanding.