3rd Grade Precipitation Probability Maps
Third graders at Holladay Elementary have been learning about the water cycle in science (SOL3.9) and probability in math (SOL3.18), so today Ms. Cowart’s students created precipitation probability maps. First we reviewed how probability relates to weather forecasting, and after so many snow days in February, the students were expert weathermen! We discussed the terms “likely”, “unlikely”, “certain,” and “impossible.” Next I posted a link to Google Maps on their Google classroom page and instructed them to click the “Create a New Map” button. They chose a type of precipitation/storm they had learned about (thunderstorm, snow, tornado, hurricane) and added an icon of it to their map. Then I showed them how to type a sentence and add a picture to it. They also added colored lines showing the probable paths of the storm. Finally they published their maps and posted the links to Google classroom. Their classmates added comments identifying the probability of the storm hitting Virginia. You can take a look at some of the maps and see the comments here.