The materials can vary based on your current supplies and preference. You can get a large desk calendar like this one:
You can also use a sticky-notes on a blank calendar like the one above. Alternatively, you might create a calendar that can be reused by adjusting the month and days with the post-it notes.
When you have the materials ready to go...
A student can hold the "Weather Reporter" or "Meteorologist" job and draw the weather by observing how the sky looks each day. This job can rotate as you wish. It is important that this student then discusses and reports the weather of the day with the community. When the month is complete, you can have a discussion as a class, asking questions such as, "What type of weather did we have the most?" or "How many days were sunny?" Whichever questions you ask remember to follow it with: "How can we find out?" This will lead to a class conversation about authentic ways to organize the data to find out. This should be student-led, allowing them to suggest ways to categorize the data, for example, cutting the calendar apart so they can sort sunny, cloudy, rainy, etc. days.
You can also use a sticky-notes on a blank calendar like the one above. Alternatively, you might create a calendar that can be reused by adjusting the month and days with the post-it notes.
When you have the materials ready to go...
A student can hold the "Weather Reporter" or "Meteorologist" job and draw the weather by observing how the sky looks each day. This job can rotate as you wish. It is important that this student then discusses and reports the weather of the day with the community. When the month is complete, you can have a discussion as a class, asking questions such as, "What type of weather did we have the most?" or "How many days were sunny?" Whichever questions you ask remember to follow it with: "How can we find out?" This will lead to a class conversation about authentic ways to organize the data to find out. This should be student-led, allowing them to suggest ways to categorize the data, for example, cutting the calendar apart so they can sort sunny, cloudy, rainy, etc. days.
We also use a temperature graph to record how it feels outside. Students might debate whether it feels 'very hot' vs. 'warm', but you can show them how to access the actual temperature online or on your phone. The temperature graphs are pre-made, but the consistent format supports students in noticing trends and data change over extended time (many months as in the photo above). You can download it FREE in our TPT store!
Remember that these are great ways to promote autonomy with student jobs while also supporting your sense of community buy-in and decision making.
We hope this is useful and that you and yours have many sunny days ahead! :)
Together in Learning,
S&C
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