This class is being offered through Outschool in the spring of 2025.

We will meet on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. Central Time beginning on January 8 through March 19, 2025.

This course is limited to 6 students per group. This ensures individualized attention, ample opportunities for practice, time for questions and review of homework. 

What causes changes in the weather? What is the relationship between weather and climate? These questions are central to big-picture investigations of these phenomena. 

This unit starts by looking at Earth’s atmosphere, the mixture of gases surrounding the planet. The oxygen we need makes up only about twenty percent of the atmosphere. Another important gas in the air is water vapor, which— through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation—plays a big part in weather. 

Meteorologists and climatologists study patterns of weather over different scales of time. Data on wind speed and direction are important to meteorologists because they demonstrate 

predictable patterns. Meteorologists also use other kinds of information to forecast the weather. Climatologists study patterns over longer time periods using much of the same data.

Students also learn that some forms of weather can be severe and hazardous, such as a hurricane, a tornado, or a lightning storm. People can design solutions to prepare for hazardous weather and to minimize risks.

Class Structure

I use a multi-media presentation style to engage learners. Individual lessons may a combination of lecture, text, games, video clips, discussion or reflection, as well as handouts. 

Students may demonstrate their learning through reading out loud, writing in chat, completing worksheets or taking notes in a journal. Each class has ample opportunity for individualized student engagement as I keep the class size small to allow for extra wait time and discussion. 

For those with reading challenges: material may be read out loud or be presented visually in charts, graphs or pictures. Graphic organizers will be offered to help remember strategies. 

For those with writing challenges: recommended math notebook includes graph paper which is best for lining up numbers. Answers may also be presented verbally or in pictures. Answers may be dictated and then copied into own notebook to "show" progress.

For those that need extra processing time: material is scaffolded for a variety of learners. Calculators can be used when the focus is on building strategies. Teaching style follows the "I do, we do, you do" method. Students are guided in the "we do" stage and do not need to demonstrate mastery in order to progress. I seek for students to show progress, not perfection. 

If you have any questions about how your learner might best access the content, please let me know. We are in a partnership for your learner's educational journey.