Toni+M.+Fields+Assessment+Journal+7


 * Assessment Journal 7**


 * Context and Structure:** Students are given the opportunity to further explore hurricane growth and destruction after  recently learning about hurricanes and other storms in their Science Explorer: Weather and Climate textbook.  This activity is structured so that students are given a real life scenario in which they must analyze scientific data and decide whether or not to evacuate a city based on the strength of an approaching hurricane.  Students will already be aware that warm ocean waters and low atmospheric pressure aid in hurricane growth.  This background knowledge will aid students in their decision on the evacuation of the city.


 * Implementation and Results:** Students are split into groups and are given a packet of information.  They are informed that they have just recently been elected mayor of Pensacola, Florida.  Students are told that there is not much time to celebrate as a hurricane has formed off the coast of Florida and it seems to be headed this way.  As mayor they must inform citizens of the approaching hurricane and whether or not an evacuation is in order.  To help make this decision various staff members have provided data on the hurricane and their opinions on what actions should be taken.  Students are given twenty-five minutes to look over this information, make a decision, and fill out the outline for the press conference.  Students then give their press conference to the class.  Students were assessed based on their participation, the completion of the press conference worksheet, the analysis of the given data, and their presentation and decision based on provided evidence.  Students were given a rubric outlining the requirements and how they would be assessed.  Most groups did very well analyzing their data and completing their press conference forms.  Some groups did not use their time wisely and could not complete their press conference worksheet before it was time for them to present.  The presentations went well, but one group was very disorganized and one person ended up speaking the whole time.


 * Reflection:** This assessment was authentic as students acted as mayor and made a decision that would affect the whole community.  This real life scenario got students engaged and excited to analyze the data on the hurricane.  They were only given so much time because is real life the decision to evacuate has to be made quickly.  Rubrics were handed out to the students and this made them aware of what they needed to do, in order to succeed.  This activity assessed the students understanding of how hurricanes gain strength based on the information students used to back up their decision on whether or not to evacuate.  Students also had to answer questions about the hurricane while giving their press conference.  I really liked this activity because students were so involved and excited to participate.

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