Lesson Plan

This is a lesson plan I have created to integrate technology in the classroom.

Climates of the World PowerPoint Activity

7^th Grade – Geography

NETS Standards

1. Creativity and Innovation – Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:

a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, and processes.

b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.

Alabama Course of Study Standards

3. Describe the processes that shape the physical environment, including the long-range effects of extreme weather phenomena and human activity.

a. Comparing how ecosystems vary from place to place and over time.

Teacher Preparation

1. Predetermine groups (six groups total)

2. Sign up to use the library

3. Flash drive for PowerPoint presentations to be saved

4. Create PowerPoint color template

Activity Procedures

1. Starter Question: When thinking about Tuscaloosa, what are common trends of the weather? Explain how it is during the spring, summer, fall, and winter. Now think about the rest of the United States. How is it the same? How does it differ?

2. Review notes from Chapter 2, Section 2: Climate

3. Read introduction of Chapter 2, Section 3: Climate Zones and Vegetation

4. “Climates of the World” Activity

a. Students get into predetermined groups and each group is assigned a climate zone (tropical climates, mid-latitude climates, mid-latitude climates, high latitude climates, dry climates, and highland climates).

b. Using textbook (pages 61 – 68), students will research their climate zone.

c. Students will use the internet to search for at least 3 pictures that represent their zone.

d. Students will create a PowerPoint presentation about their climate zone to be presented to the class. Requirements:

i. Title Slide (Climate Zone and Group Member Names)

ii. Description

iii. Continents/Countries that are located in their climate zone

iv. At least three pictures

v. Give presentation templates (see Accommodation Recommendation)

e. PowerPoint presentations will be made in class the following day.

Tools and Resources

Library Computers

Microsoft Office – PowerPoint 2007

The World and Its People Textbook

Flash drive for saving work

Internet for locating pictures

Assessment Rubric

Multimedia Project : Climates of the World PowerPoint Teacher Name: Ms. Terry Student Name: ________________________________________

CATEGORY	10	7	4	0
Presentation	Well-rehearsed with smooth delivery that holds audience attention.	Rehearsed with fairly smooth delivery that holds audience attention most of the time.	Delivery not smooth, but able to maintain interest of the audience most of the time.	Delivery not smooth and audience attention often lost.
Content	Covers topic in-depth with details and examples. Subject knowledge is excellent.	Includes essential knowledge about the topic. Subject knowledge appears to be good.	Includes essential information about the topic but there are 1-2 factual errors.	Content is minimal OR there are several factual errors.
Attractiveness	Makes excellent use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance the presentation.	Makes good use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. to enhance to presentation.	Makes use of font, color, graphics, effects, etc. but occasionally these detract from the presentation content.	Use of font, color, graphics, effects etc. but these often distract from the presentation content.

Accommodation Recommendation

J---- has colorblindness with difficulty distinguishing between red and green hues. I will give each group a template as a basis for their PowerPoint presentations. In this template, colors similar to red or green will not be placed as text or background together. This will enable J---- to contribute to his presentation as well as view the others.