WeatherWatchers

A Writing AdventureTeacher’s Page

Weather WoesThe local weather station needs your help! Their top

meteorologist has just suddenly and unexpectedly come down with a bad case of amnesia. In order to continue doing her job effectively, she needs to learn about all the different weather phenomena all over again! The weather station has contacted your class to help! Each class member must research and write about a different weather phenomenon to jog the memory of your poor meteorologist. Thanks so much for your help!

The Basics:Hmmm…how will you meet this challenge to help a

fellow citizen in need? Think about the weather. What interesting facts do you know about weather? Do you know something surprising about clouds, climates, or severe weather like storms? Write an essay that tells information about something related to weather. Write at least three paragraphs. For each paragraph, include a topic sentence followed by supporting sentences with details. Try to make your ideas flow. Be sure to end your essay with a wrap-up sentence and include the title of your essay.

Step-by-step Guide:This adventure will lead you through the steps for

creating your article:

STEP 1- Research / PlanningSTEP 2- PrewritingSTEP 3- DraftingSTEP 4- RevisingSTEP 5- ProofreadingSTEP 6- Publishing

STEP 1- RESEARCH AND PLANNING

• Before planning your article, you must decide which weather phenomenon interests you!

Are you intrigued by the clouds or the wind, and want to know more about how they work?

Have you seen communities affected by severe weather like snow storms, hurricanes, or floods and want to know more about how they occur and their effects?

Or maybe tornadoes, earthquakes or tsunamis pique your interest!

You decide! Continue

About which weather phenomenon would you like to write?

STEP 1- RESEARCH AND PLANNING

• Now you must research this weather-related issue so that you can write about it in your essay.

• When doing research, it is important to use keywords and phrases to take notes from a variety of sources.– While doing your research, write (on index cards from

your teacher) keywords and phrases that you find in your sources that give more information about the weather issue that you chose.

What is research and how do I do it?

STEP 1- RESEARCH AND PLANNING

• It is important to get ideas from many different sources for your essay. While visiting these sources, please write down information about each (type of source, title, author, publisher, date) to include in your bibliography.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN

VISITING SOURCES

Keep track of your sources…

STEP 1- RESEARCH AND PLANNING

• Visit the library with your teacher.• Find one of each of these sources to get

information for your article:– A book about weather or the phenomenon that you

chose– An encyclopedia article about the phenomenon that

you chose

CLICK HERE TO

visit more sources

Let the research begin!

Don’t forget to write ideas that you find

on your index cards!

STEP 1- RESEARCH AND PLANNING

Don’t forget to write ideas that you find

on your index cards!

Let’s use the WEB for research!

Click the pictures below to visit websites about weather.

STEP 2- PREWRITING• Now that you have ideas on index cards, you will

need to organize your ideas to help make your writing easier.

• Draw a graphic organizer like the one below to organize your ideas. Write your topic in the center. Choose three main ideas about your topic. Write those in the large circles. Write supporting details about each main idea around the circle.

STEP 3- DRAFTING• You are well on your way! Now that you have researched

your ideas and organized them in a web, writing your essay should be easy! (Drafting means writing the first copy of your essay.)

• Use your web to help guide your writing. – Be sure to start with a captivating opening sentence.– Write one paragraph about each main idea about your

weather-related issue.– Don’t forget to close your essay with a summary sentence.– Don’t forget to create a catchy title for your essay.

STEP 4- REVISING

• To revise means to make your writing better.• After you have written the first draft of your

essay, re-read it to check for incomplete ideas or places to add or take away information.

• Ask a friend to read your essay and conference with you about any suggested changes.

• Use this checklist as a guide for revising:http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/uploads/2071.pdf

STEP 5- PROOFREADING

• When your revisions are complete, it is time to proofread your essay, or check for mistakes.

• Type your essay using the program Microsoft Word.

• Use the Microsoft Word spelling and grammar checker to check for mistakes.

Click here to find out how to use the

spelling and grammar checker.

STEP 6- PUBLISHING• Well done! You have researched, created

a graphic organizer, drafted, revised, and proofread your article. It is now time to publish!

• Print your essay so that it can be compiled by the local meteorologist for study.

• Don’t forget to create your bibliography!• Great work!