MINIPAGE TEACHER'S GUIDE

MiniPage Teacher's Guide
MiniPage activities meet many state and national educational standards. This week's standards: Students understand changes in the Earth and sky. (Earth and Space Science)
Activities:
1. "Winter" weather is not the same in all parts of the United States. You may live in a place that gets very cold and has a lot of snow in winter. Or you might live somewhere that stays warm all year-round, even in the winter. Draw a picture of yourself and your friends enjoying winter in your community. Write a sentence telling about winter weather where you live.
2. Use newspaper ads to find three pieces of clothing you would need if your winter were very cold. Find three different items, other than clothing, that would be helpful in a cold winter. Explain your choices.
3. Look at the U.S. map in today's MiniPage. Which three cities receive the most snow? Which three receive the least? Look at the location of these cities. Can you explain why some cities get a lot of snow and other cities get only a little? Which city on the list would you like to live in? Why?
4. Read about the great blizzards of the past in today's Mini Page. Make a list of at least three problems the blizzards created for people living in those times. Now use the newspaper to find three pieces of equipment or electronics that people can use today to make sure they don't have the same problems, even in bad weather.
5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about winter weather where you live. Use these questions to guide your research: Is your city near mountains, plains or the ocean? How does the geographical location of your city affect your winter weather? What type(s) of precipitation does your city receive? What problems are created by the precipitation? Write a paragraph discussing the causes of winter weather in your city.