ABC Action News Anchor Dan Shaffer Visits Corbett Prep: Weather Forecast - Sunny, Cloudy, Windy, and Snowy?

Prepared with mittens, extra socks, scarves and hats, the Early Primary students geared up for a “snow day” as part of their interactive, experiential lesson on the effects of weather.

Students in PreK4 and Kindergarten began the unit by experiencing the water cycle as they transformed into water molecules moving from classroom to classroom. They started as part of the ocean shining in the sun. As the little “molecules” were heated, they evaporated and
formed clouds amidst a sea of mist and fog. Once they condensed as clouds, they fell as chilly precipitation upon a snowy mountain to be absorbed into the earth to nourish plants and grass.

To understand how change in the wind impacts the weather, the small scientists traveled to Lake Park to fly kites in order to see and feel how wind creates lift.

The weather patterns thematic unit at Corbett Prep integrates the International Baccalaureate (IB) focus on how weather patterns inform, prepare, and affect the daily lives of people around the world.

Always encouraging students to ask questions, Early Primary teachers use an inquiry approach to create joyful
experiences that engage the students in all phases of their learning. The areas of inquiry for this unit included weather patterns, classification of clouds, and meteorological instruments.

As a special celebration of the weather unit, PreK4 teacher Ashleigh Elozory asked Dan Shaffer, ABC Action News
anchor and former meteorologist, to pay the junior meteorologists a visit to “talk about the weather.”

“What is it called when water condenses from the atmosphere?” Mr. Shaffer asked.

Little hands flew up. A proud PreK4 student exclaimed, “Precipitation!”

“What are examples of precipitation?”

“HAIL! SNOW! RAIN!”

 “The kids asked very intelligent questions. I am impressed with the level of sophistication  of their comments and questions. From precipitation to cloud structures, these PreK4 and Kindergarten students knew
their stuff!” said Anchor Dan Shaffer.