Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Name: How’s the Weather?

Content Area: Science
Grade Level(s): Pre-K
Content Standard Addressed:
CD-SC2.4d Uses appropriate vocabulary to discuss climate and changes in the weather.

Technology Standard Addressed: 7- Global Collaborator

Selected Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: The Global Schoolhouse

URL(s) to support the lesson: http://www.globalschoolnet.org/

Describe how you would incorporate an Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in your
classroom:

I would incorporate this collaborative online learning project by first connecting with up to 3 other teachers
and classrooms from various climate zones using the Global Schoolhouse Network. This lesson would be
introduced fairly early into the school year because ideally each area would be experiencing similar
temperatures and would be ongoing through the year. We would begin by first introducing the classes to
each other using a web video chat. We would also discuss the current weather conditions that each class is
experiencing in their areas. The students would then record their weather conditions on shared document
for comparison.

Each week students will connect to share pictures and weather data and discuss the seasonal changes they
are experiencing in their climate zone. This information can be shared by creating a private website where
each class can upload pictures or videos of weather phenomena and share stories about seasonal activities
and recreation in their area. This will continue throughout the school year so that the students can compare
and contrast weather patterns and seasonal changes around the world. Students will use this information to
discover why and how different weather conditions are experienced in their areas and the areas of their
collaborators. With the permission of the children’s parents, the website can be publicly published for other
classrooms to contribute to and extend the project and data collected.

What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a classroom?
Computer with internet access and web cam, private project website, camera and/or video recorder.

Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience (note: all of them may not be
addressed in the project, but most should be if you are reaching a high LoTi Level).
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom and often beyond their
school: Students will be collaborating with each other through the gathering and sharing of weather-
related data and information in various climate zones around the world.

b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (creating original data and or producing original
products as a result of engaging in a project): The students would use this information to compare
and contrast weather patterns and climates in different parts of the world. Students will write and
share stories, take photos of seasonal changes, and track the weather in their area as well as the area
of the classes they are working with.

c. Higher-order thinking: This project encourages students to expand their levels of thinking by first
providing a fun and engaging platform to learn about weather and discuss this knowledge with other

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 Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities
to reinforce their understanding of the content. This knowledge and understanding can be applied
further by collaborating with other students to collect and analyze data to be evaluated.

d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their product: This project
can be published so that other classes can continue the project. Other classes can add on to the data or
use the data to allow their students to compare weather around the world and creating a platform for
a global classroom.

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☒ Evaluating ☒ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☒ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

This project offers opportunities for various means of expression to address the various learning styles of the
students. DLLs can be supported by working with classrooms who speak their home language; however, a
translator may be needed for collaboration.
Lesson idea implementation and Internet Safety Policies:
Parent permission would be required before the project begins. Also, no personally identifiable information of
the children would be shared in this project. The website access would be private so information and
communication would only occur between collaborating classrooms when the teacher is present. Project
results would be published after the completion of the project and parent permission would direct what if any
of their child’s work or pictures can be shared.
Reflective Practice:
While designing this lesson, it made me think of the Monarch Butterfly project. Because many of the topics
and content of available online projects are not developmentally appropriate, many preschools miss out on
valuable learning experiences. This lesson fulfills an area that is overlooked and provides and age appropriate
alternative for young children, but can also be utilized by older learners as well.

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