Severe Weather Safety PSA

Students create public service announcements to inform others and help them stay safe during severe weather events.

Task

Severe weather events are becoming more frequent. As you learn about weather and climate, task students with sharing what they have learned to inform others and help them stay safe during severe weather events.

Engage

Create

Share

Share the PSAs on your school web site and present them during morning announcements. Reach out to your local access television station to see if they will air student PSAs to help educate your community, especially if students have focused on severe weather in your area.

Assessment

Use research notes and conversations with students during the process to identify misconceptions and adjust your instruction to better support their learning.

The final PSA will help you assess their understanding of the issue as well as their ability to use multiple forms of media to inform viewers and get them to take action.

To craft a compelling PSA in a short amount of time will involve effective collaboration. You may want to share a rubric that articulates actions they can take to work together more effectively.

Resources

NOAA - Severe Weather

National Geographic's Weather Center

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

MS-ESS2-5 Earth's Systems

Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.

MS-ESS2-6 Earth's Systems

Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

ISTE Standards for Students:

3. Knowledge Constructor
Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others. Students:

a. use effective research strategies to find resources that support their learning needs, personal interests and creative pursuits.

b. evaluate the accuracy, validity, bias, origin, and relevance of digital content.

c. curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.

6. Creative Communicator
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. Students:

a. choose the appropriate platforms and digital tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

c. use digital tools to visually communicate complex ideas to others.

d. publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.