13th Symposium on Education

P1.25

Ground Hog Day as an Educational Tool

Jill F. Hasling, Weather Research Center, Houston, TX; and E. Murphy

Weather Day at the Zoo is held on Ground Hog Day at the Zoo. Area schools and civic groups participate during the fall and winter months preparing information on animals at the zoo. The students research where the animal comes from; what type of winter weather is the animal exposed to; what does the animal eat; does the animal hibernate. The students learn research tools on the internet as well as study geography, climate and weather. The students create a black and white drawing of the animal as well as a fact sheet that is reproduced by sponsors. The students then plan decorations for a booth that is manned on ground hog day where they pass out the sheets to visitors to the zoo. The visitors visit about 20 booths collecting sheets creating a wonderful coloring book full of facts on climate and animals.

The day turns into a media event when local meteorologists check with a special animal who has been designated to view his/her shadow.

extended abstract  Extended Abstract (660K)

Supplementary URL: http://www.wxresearch.org/papers/amszoo2.pdf

Poster Session 1, Poster Session Educational initiatives (Hall 4AB)
Sunday, 11 January 2004, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Hall 4AB

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