Cloud Database

Suggested Grade Level/Type of Class:

• Grades 7 - 9. Computer Technology.

Objectives:

• The student will research information on the types of clouds.

• The student will demonstrate their ability to create a database.

• The student will demonstrate their ability to use a formula

• The student will demonstrate their ability to create various reports

• The student will access electronic information to obtain the most accurate pressure and temperature readings from the National Weather Service.

National Standards and the following Virginia SOLs:

• C/T 8.1 - The student will communicate through application software.

• Communicate with databases by defining fields and entering data, sorting, and producing reports in various forms.

• C/T 8.4 - The student will process, store, retrieve, and transmit electronic information.

• Use search strategies to retrieve electronic information.

• use electronic encyclopedias, almanacs, indexes, and catalogs to retrieve and select relevant information.

• ES. 1 - The student will plan and conduct investigations in which:

• ... temperature and pressure are calculated using the most appropriate tools.

Skill Level

• moderate familiarity with computer

• Prerequisite: knowledge of database

Estimated Time for Completing Activity

• 2 weeks to collect data - 10 to 15 minutes a day to observe and record information on the S'COOL Observation Form.

• 2 class periods to complete the database activity.

Vocabulary:

• Database, record, field, query, report and S'COOL cloud terminology.

Class of Activity

• Application

Applications to Technology and Society:

• Students will gain a better understanding of clouds and their effect on the Earth's climate.

Materials:

• Computer, Internet access, S'COOL data, Database application (ClarisWorks, Filemaker Pro, ect.), Electronic encyclopedias and S'COOL Observation Form

Procedure

• Part I. The teacher will introduce the class to the S'COOL Project. The class will begin a unit on the study of clouds. They will use the Internet and electronic encyclopedias to do their research on cloud types. Students will study the various types of clouds and practice identifying them. Some sites that could be used are:
  • S'COOL
  • S'COOL: Observing Cloud Type
  • Center for Clouds, Chemistry & Climate
• Part II.
  • Students will collect data for the S'COOL project on the observations of clouds.

  • Internet sites will be book marked.

  • Data will be recorded on the S'COOL report form and then put in a table or spreadsheet.

  • Students will create their own database to reflect their observations over a 2 week period.

  • The following fields will be used: date, time, type of cloud (Use a pull down menu.), amount of coverage, surface temperature, surface pressure, surface cover (Use a pull down menu.), average coverage

  • Students will create various reports and queries according to the directions on their handout.

  • Students will use a formula to do a calculation and find the average amount of cloud coverage.

Evaluation:

• Evaluation will be based on the successful completion of the database activity.

Teacher's Notes:

An instruction sheet will be included to guide students through the activity.

Rubric for evaluating student work.

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Lesson Plan developed by Christine York, Hampton City Schools, Virginia, USA, for NASA's S'COOL Project.

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