Eighth grade students in my eighth grade class at Bala Cynwyd Middle School have been involved in an eight week project with 3800 middle school students around the world called Kids As Global Scientists.
The students were divided into eight groups, Bala Cynwyd being a part of "Group Five". Reading meteorological instruments in their own weather station, BC students then shared their readings with the other students in their international group. The ultimate goal was to instruct students to make their own weather predictions in the different global locations. Students were acquainted through a CD-ROM which included pictures of the students and their own audio introductions.
The curriculum had students view live satellite maps of weather using Blue Skies software, forecast weather for other KGS schools and then send e-mail to that school. Students left messages on the Kids As Global Scientists' message board for the participating schools to see if their predictions were correct. Students learned new material through investigation of their particular topics in "Clouds and Humidity", "Precipitation", "Wind", and "Temperature and Pressure", utilizing 'hands-on' curriculum.
As the students became experts in their individual areas, each group then presented their data and research to the other members of their class using a creative teaching style. Their presentations showed the results of their critical thinking and independent learning in various forms of teaching. The presentations ranged from "game shows" to interactive class participation of "Magellan's Voyage", using only the winds to travel from Spain around the world in a sailing vessel. The last two weeks involved students' creation of newspapers on weather and meteorological data which were published on the KGS message board for all students from around the world to read.
Teachers also shared through vignettes what they were teaching through meteorology. The responses were then made by other teachers in the program and the dialogue encouraged and stimulated educators in making certain their students learn meteorology.
The Kids As Global Scientists' Program runs from January through March, so it will be available on-line for educators and scientists to see in 1999. Educators will participate in what the teachers and students have learned through data collected from January, 1998.
From October 4-November 5, 1998, "Hurricanes '98" will be working with students, globally, in tracking hurricanes and utilizing the current data from September, 1998. Students will be actively involved in learning about what causes hurricanes and how they move across the ocean surface.
The meteorological programs offered by the University of Michigan have enriched my middle school science classes and provided a venue of inquiry learning which stimulates the students' learning perspective.