Final+Project+for+Educators

__//**Final Project**//__  This unit focuses on Natural Disasters. The grade level for this unit is 5th grade. The unit is designed to last for 2 weeks. The first week is for gaining information and completing each task. The second week is for editing and preparing the "live" broadcast students have created.


 * NYS Learning Standards: **


 * Standard 1: Analysis, Inquiry, and Design

// Key Idea 1: The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanation of natural phenomena in a continuing, creative process.

Standard 2 - Information Systems

// //Key Idea 1: Information technology is used to retrieve, process, and communicate information and as a tool to enhance learning.

Key Idea 2: Knowledge of the impacts and limitations of information systems is essential to its effectiveness and ethical use.//

Standard 4: The Physical Setting- Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

Standard 6: Interconnectedness: Common Themes

// Key Idea 1: Through systems thinking, people can recognize the commonalities that exist among all systems and how parts of a system interrelate and combine to perform specific functions.

Key Idea 5: Identifying patterns of change is necessary for making predictions about future behavior and conditions.

// **// ** Unit Goal: **

**  **Instructional Objectives:**
 * The goal of this unit is to have students understand the various types of weather/natural disasters and the effects that weather can have on the environment and people living in that environment.

1.) Students will be able to identify the various types of weather that occur worldwide with the aid of a podcast with accuracy.

2.) After researching different types of weather in a specific region, students will create a live weather report with accuracy.

** Procedure:  **

The unit will begin with an introduction movie, showing different clips from weather reports as well as clips and video footage of natural disasters. Students will also listen to an overview of the unit and the different tasks they must accomplish that lead up to their final projects.

Students will then view a Voicethread where they must comment and respond to the questions regarding the images they see.

Students will then listen to a podcast and follow along with the use of a worksheet, helping them focus on the important facts of each natural disaster.

The third task for the students is to watch a Powerpoint presentation. In this presentation students will view different videos pertaining to a specific natural disaster.

The student's final project will be to create a broadcast on "live TV" about a storm such as a massive hurricane. After researching their natural disaster, they will use iMovie and GarageBand to choose music and import their video footage. This will be done in groups of four. Tutorials on iMovie and GarageBand will be provided for the students. // **Assessment:**

The final project will be the assessment piece. Students should understand what storm occurred, where, and why the storm happened based on the location and environment. Students should also express how people feel after the storm and the effects the storm has on society.


 * Resources:**