Blog Assignment:  Weather Gone Wild or Something Else?

As a class we will complete a series of tasks to help us gain a better understanding of what causes the weather phenomena we experience on Earth.  After completing these tasks, it will be your job to pull together the facts and draw your own conclusions, based on and supported by data, about what is really up with the weather.  Is it all part of our Earth's natural cycles or is it something more?  You will present your findings on your blog (assignment details below).

Let's review... 

The video below explains the three basic storm ingredients and the specific requirements for the formation of hurricanes and tornadoes.  It also describes the role that these storms play in our environment.  We will watch this together in class.  As you view the video, try to identify places on Earth where you think many tornadoes and hurricanes might form.

Natural Phenomena: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Other Weather

Natural Phenomena: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and Other Weather
Maslowski Wildlife Productions,  1998 . Full Video.
Discovery Education. Web. 12 November 2012. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.

Reading for Information...

As a class we are going to read and discuss the following article:

On your own, select at least three of the following articles to read OR you may search for other current, relevant articles in print or online to read.  You will use these, along with data from the National Geographic article and the video to support your findings in your blog post.

       Web. 13 Nov. 2012. 
       Web. 13 Nov. 2012.
  • OR search for other current, relevant articles (be sure they are from legitimate sources)

Climate Change: Arctic warming pushes winter weather further south

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBlLP6KTrsE

A meteorologist's perspective on climate change and weather patterns.

The video series is part of a NASA supported Global Climate Change Education project at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY to increase climate science literacy. 

Wisconsin's Apostle Island Ice Caves Open for the First Time in 5 Years

Web link

Thanks to the extremely cold temperatures this season, you can get a rare up-close look at mother nature's beauty on the South Shore at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin.

The journey to see them is not an easy one, but after hiking the mile long trek over snow and Lake Superior ice, many say it's all worth it.

The Assignment - Your Blog Post

  1. Click on the "Class Blogs" button to the right to get to our kidblog site.  Once there, select "Login" from the upper right-hand corner.  Select your name from the pull-down menu and type in your password (same as your school mac password).
  2. Once you are logged in, select the "New Post" tab at the top-middle of the page.  Be sure to give your post an appropriate title and type it in where it says "Enter Title Here".
  3. Review the "General Blogging Tips" below.  The video, also below, on starting a new post and adding an image to your post is worth watching, as well.
  4. Blog posts are like an online journal assignment.  In this blog post you should discuss the following:
                    * How do storms like hurricanes and tornadoes form?
                    * Based on your research, present your findings regarding what you believe "is up with the weather"
                    * Be sure to cite the articles you read within your post (hyperllink these so your readers can access the articles 
                      directly from you blog post)
                    * Add a topic appropriate image to your post (Upload/Insert Media) - you MUST use images under Creative 
                      Commons licensing.  Remember, just because it is creative commons doesn't mean you don't have to cite it.  
                      Most, if not all, images under Creative Commons license require attribution be given for the original work.  If 
                      you aren't sure what creative commons is or how to search for this, see the screen cast below.
 5.    Read and comment on at least 3 of your classmates posts.  Comments should be specific, educationally 
        relevant, and appropriate.  No "good point" or "nice job" without supporting details.

Submit blog post for review by end of day Tuesday, 2/17.

Grading Rubric
File Size: 30 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

General Blogging Tips:

1.  Safety first!  Never share any last names on your blog or when commenting on other student blogs.
2.  Remember to use proper grammar and punctuation - this is not like texting and messaging your friends - you have a 
     worldwide audience.
3.  Read your own post before submitting it for review.  Make sure that what you wrote makes sense.
4.  Use spell check before you post.
5.  Write at least one paragraph (minimum 5 sentences) including a topic sentence telling what your paragraph is about and 
     three sentences with supporting details answering the question/about the topic.  You may write more than this if you want to,  
     just do not write less.
6.  Don't forget to add a picture/image (properly cited) and/or a link where applicable.  This makes your blog post more interesting 
     and appealing to your readers.

Creative Commons and Google Advanced Search Features

Please view the screen cast to the left to learn more about how to use Google advanced search features to filter images and material for those that are under a creative commons, or free to use and share, license.

Creating a New Post & Uploading an Image

The screencast to the right is a tutorial on how to start a new post in your kidblog account and also includes a lesson on how to upload an image into your post.