Clouds

DESCRIPTORS

Curriculum Areas: Science

Recommended Levels: 3-5th

Time Frame: 30-45 minutes

Tribal Affiliation: Navajo

Geographic Location: Southwest (Dilcon)

Developed by: Martha Lee

Email addresses of developers: redhorse86047@yahoo.com or martha_lee@teachnet.edb.utexas.edu

Date lesson was developed: July 26, 2001

American Indian Standards:

• Life Science Standard D3

INSTRUCTION

Goal: To know how to use Navajo words and concepts to identify different kinds of clouds.

Behavioral Objectives: Students will:

• Learn the names and characteristics of the different kinds of clouds in Navajo.
• Take digital pictures of cloud formations.
• Search Internet for scientific names of clouds.

Prior Knowledge Needed:

• Using digital camera.

• Using the Internet

Materials and Resources Needed:

• Digital camera
• Internet
• Construction paper
• Crayons/markers
• Cotton
• glue

Culture Content and Strategies:

• Local elder from the community.
• Navajo vocabulary

Lesson Summary and Performance Tasks:

In this lesson, the students will be introduced to naming and describing different clouds in Navajo. The students will have already studied the different clouds in their regular classes. They will take digital pictures of the different kinds of clouds. This may take a couple of days, weeks due to the weather changes, and the different cloud formations. This activity might be an on going activity. Students will also look for the different kinds of clouds on the Internet and down load some pictures. Students will create an arts/crafts project using construction paper, crayons and/or markers, cotton, glue, and their pencil in which they show the different kinds of clouds and label them in Navajo and in English. Students may also work in small groups to make a PowerPointÔ or HyperStudioÔ presentation, using digital photographs of the clouds and labeling them in Navajo and in English. Students may add sound files saying the names in Navajo and in English.

Assessment:

• Evaluate students through informal notes of their projects.
• Checklists (observation/participation)
• Art project and/or presentations will be assessed for accurate cloud identification, characteristics, and Navajo translations.

EXTENSION

Technology Integration:

• Use the Internet to look for different kinds of clouds.
• Use the digital camera to take pictures of clouds.
• Use presentation software to create a presentation.

Enrichment/Remediation:

• Each class will develop own book about clouds.
• Cooperative grouping may provide remediation for students with learning disabilities.
• Presentations prepared by other students or by the teacher can be used for review by students who need additional help.

Teacher Reflections

To be added by user