Beyond-the-Basic

Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: How Predictable! Weather Forecasting
Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): 4th

Content Standard Addressed:

S4E4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information using weather charts/maps and collect weather data to
predict weather events and infer weather patterns.
b. Interpret data from weather maps, including fronts (warm, cold, and stationary), temperature,
pressure, and precipitation to make an informed prediction about tomorrow’s weather.

Technology Standard Addressed: 3 – Knowledge Constructor

Selected Technology Tool: Discovery Education – Board Builder

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):
https://www.weatherwizkids.com

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

X Remembering X Understanding X Applying X Analyzing X Evaluating X Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion X Level 4: Integration

☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):
Board Builder, as a beyond the basic productivity tool, supports UDL in the following ways:
• Audio (narration) supports auditory learners and provides non-visual alternatives.
• Visual diagrams, charts, notations of music or sound support visual learners and offer non-
auditory alternatives.
• Text displayed can be altered in several ways including, size, color, font, and spacing.
• Visuals and other elements can be arranged in different layouts to help students better
comprehend the information.

Lesson idea implementation:

For this activity, students will be examining how meteorologists use weather patterns and instruments to
make predictions about the weather. Using the board builder students will be able to choose a state or city
and create their own virtual weather map in which they discuss concepts such as high/low-pressure systems,
warm/cold fronts, temperatures, precipitation, and etc. In addition, students will also be asked to conduct
and record their research on meteorologists and weather instruments using videos, websites, audio, and etc.

I will model for the students how to add images, audio files, links, and videos to their virtual poster board.
After the students have completed their interactive boards, they will write a short script, acting as a
meteorologist and forecast the weather for their chosen area (with their classmates acting as audience
members). Once all of the students have had the chance to present their boards, I will provide students with
the opportunity to save and download their peers’ boards for review.

Reflective Practice: To move this up the LoTi, I would consider publishing and sharing their boards with the
Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
entire school. This would allow for other students and teachers to view the students’ boards and gain new
information through multiple avenues.

Spring 2018_SJB