Patrick Ferrante
Date
Grade: 6
Unit: Spreadsheets (Technology) / Weather & Climate (Science)
Lesson: Using Internet Resources to Gather Data & Creating Graphs to Compare
Data
Time: 2-3 40 minute blocks
Background
This lesson is intended to be used to teach students how to use a
spreadsheet application to create a graph. However, several other skills
in technology, science, language arts, and social studies. It would
beneficial to have some understanding of weather and climate, however
this project can be used to introduce these topics as well.
Enduring
Understandings
•Selection of online resources should be determined by the relevance of
the resource, accuracy of the information and the personal and/or
career needs.
•Spreadsheets are valuable tools that can be used to record, organize,
sort, analyze, and display information.
•Climate is the long-term average of atmospheric conditions at a
particular place on Earth’s surface and is determined by latitude,
elevation, prevailing winds, ocean currents, landforms, and location
relative to water.
Essential
Questions
•How can we use online resources to gather data about global climate
patterns?
•How can we use spreadsheets to record, organize, and analyze data
related to global weather patterns?
•What is climate and what influences the climate of a region?
Standards
8.1 Educational Technology All students will use digital tools to
access, manage, evaluate, and synthesize information in order to
solve problems individually and collaboratively and to create and
communicate knowledge.
A. Technology Operations and Concepts
5.4 Earth Systems Science: All students will understand that Earth
operates as a set of complex, dynamic, and interconnected systems, and
is a part of the all-encompassing system of the universe.
Strand F. Climate and Weather: Earth’s weather and climate systems
are the result of complex interactions between land, ocean, ice, and
atmosphere.
Patrick Ferrante
Date
Grade: 6
Unit: Spreadsheets (Technology) / Weather & Climate (Science)
Lesson: Using Internet Resources to Gather Data & Creating Graphs to Compare
Data
Time: 2-3 40 minute blocks
Content Statement
CPI #
The use of technology and digital tools
8.1.8.A.4
requires knowledge and appropriate use of (TECH)
operations and related applications.
Digital tools and environments support
the learning process and foster
collaboration in solving local or global
issues and problems.
8.1.8.C.1
(TECH)
Cumulative Progress Indicator
Generate a spreadsheet to calculate,
graph, and present information. Participate in an online learning
community with learners from other
countries (this project is more local)
to understand their perspectives on a
global problem or issue, and propose
possible solutions.
Climate is the result of long-term patterns 5.4.6.F.2
Create climatographs for various
of temperature and precipitation.
(SCIENCE) locations around Earth and categorize
the climate based on the yearly patterns
of temperature and precipitation.
Integrate quantitative or technical
information expressed in words in a text
with a version of that information
expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart,
diagram, model, graph, or table).
Objective
•
•
•
RST.
6-8.7.
(LA)
Use non-fiction Internet text
resources to gather information. Use
the information to provide written
explanation and to create a graph.
Using the Internet, LWBAT gather climate data for two cities.
Using spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel, iWork Numbers,
Google Docs, OpenOffice, etc.), LWBAT enter data into a
table, calculate average temperature and rainfall for two cities,
and create a graph for the temperature and rainfall amounts
for both cities.
Using a wiki, LWBAT collaborate with peers about a global
issue.
Materials
Computer
Internet Access
Teacher Created Wiki (http://ferranteclimatographs.wikispaces.com/) to provide background
information and links for this assignment.
Spreadsheet application (Microsoft Excel, iWork Numbers,
Google Docs, OpenOffice, etc.)
Weblinks: www.climate-zone.com
Patrick Ferrante
Date
Grade: 6
Unit: Spreadsheets (Technology) / Weather & Climate (Science)
Lesson: Using Internet Resources to Gather Data & Creating Graphs to Compare
Data
Time: 2-3 40 minute blocks
Set
Post question: What is one action humans could take to help
reduce the rate of global warming?
Procedures
Students access wiki and complete several tasks
Task 1 - Should be done prior to coming to class. It requires
reading a few articles related to climate, climate change, and
technology, then responding to two questions
Task 2 - Students download a table, and input climate data
related to two cities.
Task 3 - Students follow video tutorial and teacher modeling to
create a climatograph for one city and their partner creates a
climatograph for the other city.
Students work with a partner to compare climatographs and
discuss the information presented.
Work to develop responses to the discussion questions.
Evaluation
•Completion of Data Table
•Calculation of Average Total Yearly Rainfall and AverageAverage Monthly Temperature
•Creation of a Climatograph
•Discussion Questions
Homework
Complete the responses to the discussion questions. They can
be submitted digitally
Patrick Ferrante
Date
Grade: 6
Unit: Spreadsheets (Technology) / Weather & Climate (Science)
Lesson: Using Internet Resources to Gather Data & Creating Graphs to Compare
Data
Time: 2-3 40 minute blocks
Modifications
Reflection
Teacher generated video tutorials
Modify the number of discussion questions required