5 kids with technology on grassy lawn
Grade 5

Exploring Scientific Concepts Related to Climate

Creative Communicator
squirrel

Overview​

In this activity, students will explore how climate affects the land, people, and animals around them as well as other regions across the globe. Students will use NASAClimateKids to participate in independent research, ask and answer questions, and record information. Students will relay their findings to the class using Voki by creating an animated video report on the topic.

Students will:

  • Be able to navigate and explore web pages independently.

  • Be able to explore educational videos using NASAClimateKids.

  • Be able to ask and answer questions about climate.

  • Be able to collect, record, and relay information about climate.

  • Be able to expand their knowledge on climate.

Vocabulary Words:

  1. Science: Science is the study of the world around us.

  2. Climate: Climate is the weather found in a certain place over a long period of time 

  3. Research: Research means to search or investigate thoroughly.

  4. NASA: NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

To prepare for this lesson:

  • See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4student website in the Teacher Resources. 
  • Students who may be unable to write can choose not to utilize the research recording worksheet. 
  • Students who may be unable to read or audibly listen may choose to only review content that works best for them as NASAClimateKids displays information in multiple formats. 
  • Students who may be unable to easily navigate the Voki website may choose to explain their findings in front of the class. 
  • Gifted students may partake in exterior research using alternative web sources to enhance their reports.

Directions for this activity:

  1. The teacher will introduce any important vocabulary that students will need to know prior to starting the activity.
     
  2. The teacher will hand out research recording worksheets and explain to the students how to successfully use them.
     

  3. The students will visit Home | NASA Climate Kids and choose a topic that interests them at the top of the webpage (big questions, weather, climate, atmosphere, water, energy, or plants and animals). 

  4. The website will guide students to another page where they will explore one of the subfolders of their choosing.

  5. After reviewing the content in their chosen subfolder, the student will organize learned information on their research recording worksheets. 

  6. The students will be guided to Voki - Create. 

  7. The students will review the following tutorial How to Create and Publish Your Voki before creating their Voki. 

  8. The students will create a Voki account and begin designing an animated character. The teacher may allow students to utilize Voki without creating an account if they so choose. 

  9. The students will begin to use Voki to create an animated video where they will report on the topic that they chose.

  10. The students will use the information on their research recording worksheet to organize their reports. Students can also include the following information in their report if the teacher so chooses: 

    • What topic did you choose? 

    • Why did you choose this topic? 

    • Why do you think this topic is important? 

  11. The students will present their animated videos to the class.

  12. The teacher will open the floor for students to ask and answer questions about their peers' presentations.

Different options for assessing the students:

  • Collect student's video presentations for review 
  • Observation 
  • Exit ticket 
  • The teacher can collect student's Research worksheets 
  • Venn diagram 
  • KWL chart

MITECS: Michigan adopted the "ISTE Standards for Students" called MITECS (Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students) in 2018.

Creative Communicator
6a. Students choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication. 
6b. Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations. 
6c.Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models, or simulations. 
6d. Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.

Device: PC, Chromebook, Mac, iPad 

Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, ALL

App, Extension, or Add-on:

Websites:
How to Create and Publish Your Voki

NASA Climate Kids

PebbleGo Open Ended Research Forms

Voki

 

CONTENT AREA RESOURCES

Students can write a paragraph about their research experience including what they would do differently if the activity was repeated. Students could also write about their personal opinions on climate change and how they think it will change in the future.

Students can draw images of different climates across the globe. Have students include what types of plants, animals and or people are found there.

Students can collect patterns in climate changes happening in their community and other communities over an extended period of time and create a graph. 

Students can create a Venn diagram to determine the similarities and differences in how climate affects animals, land, and people. Students could also use a Venn diagram to compare different types of climate in regions across the globe.

Students can display images of different climates on a world map. Have students include pictures and written explanations to support their findings.

Report a bad link, inappropriate content or out-of-date content. 

Credits
This task card was created by Shay Stroven, Lenawee County, October 2022. 


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