Gather round students, lets talk about what the weather is going to be today, tomorrow and so on. We are use to doing this with our poster-board sized calendar that is tacked to the bulletin board. The squares have apples with numbers on them and we add a bright yellow sun or some gloomy looking clouds to signify the weather of the day.
Remember this?
Well, all of us virtual teachers can't sit our students in front of the bulletin board calendar to talk about the weather. This is for a few reasons...1) Our students are located throughout the state..they join us in our online classroom. I can certainly put up a whiteboard with a calendar and apples with numbers but it is mainly for reason number 2) that this plan will not work. I am certain to hear my student in Superior WI (WAY up north) disagree with me if I am describing the weather in Janesville, WI (southern border between WI and IL). They are usually experiencing VERY different weather!
Discussing the weather and how we plan for it is a very valuable topic for our students and just because we are not physically in front of them, should they miss out on the activity.
Well...I have found a solution! http://www.swackett.com/ (a combination of Sweater, Jacket or Coat). The "App" comes in a web based version and it is free! I demonstrate using it here:
This is just one more example of a great learning activity for students within a brick and mortar school setting, can also be translated into the virtual environment!
Love it!
Colleen
