Lesson Plan: Snow Science

Lesson Plan

Introduction

What began many years ago with simple observation is now a fascinating field of science. There are many physical forces at work (friction, mass, gravity, acceleration, force), geographical forces (terrain, slope, vegetation, weather) and snow science factors (snowflake shape, temperature) in an avalanche.

The Task

Students will research and analyze the factors that cause avalanches. They will then create a poster that shows the anatomy of an avalanche.

The Process

Students will work in small groups. They should begin their research on the topic Avalanche! on the CBC Digital Archives website, specifically the clips titled "The science behind the slide" and "How to survive an avalanche".   They can explore the links, the resources listed here, and the library to gather the additional information necessary to complete their research. They can record their findings on the download sheet Snow Science. Groups should also record all resources consulted and cited.

Using the information they have gathered, students make a poster or a model illustrating the anatomy of an avalanche.

Conclusion

Gather students and have each group present its avalanche poster or model. Students should be able to explain the reasons for drawing or building their models the way they did.

Assessment Tip
Have students self-evaluate, considering how well they understand avalanches, whether they found valid information, and whether they organized, chose, and presented their information well. They can also consider the most interesting thing they learned and any additional information they would like to learn about the anatomy of an avalanche.

Material

Craft materials