Icon Descriptions

The following icons are used in the lessons of the OCS Weather Series to help teachers determine whether an activity is appropriate for their classroom.
 
Grades
 
These icons represent the appropriate grade level for an activity, from 3rd grade to 12th grade. Typically, more than one grade level is listed, as different classes have different experiences, and because activities can be changed slightly to make them more or less difficult.  
 
Activity Time
 
These icons represent the minimum time that should be allotted to the activity. The four clock icons indicate activity times of 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes, respectively. The calendar icon indicates an activity that requires more than one class period to finish. The actual time required to finish an activity with the calendar icon must be determined by the teacher by reading the activity description. The hourglass icon describes a timed activity.  
 
Time for Multiple Activities
 
A combination of a timepiece icon and the calendar icon indicates an activity that should occur for a certain amount of time each day for a certain number of days. The particular number of days and the spacing between activity days will be described in the lesson plan.  
 
Number of Participants
  
The first icon refers to an activity that requires individual study or laboratory work. The second icon refers to an activity that requires cooperative learning. Questions asked in cooperative learning activities generally should be discussed among group members before entering into a full classroom discussion.  
 
Demonstration
  
This icon represents a demonstration in front of the class.  
 
Multi-site Activity
 
This icon represents a demonstration in front of the class.  
 
Specific Equipment or Data Required
 
The first icon indicates that a computer is required for the given activity. The specific software that must or can be used will be described in the lesson plan. The second icon indicates that a computer and modem must be used to gather data or to communicate to others. Restrictions on the modem connection, if any are present, will be detailed in the lesson plan. The third icon represents the use of Oklahoma Mesonet data. These data may be real-time and require downloading, or may be archived and require a disk of the data. The last icon indicates that data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program can or must be used in the activity. Information describing access to Mesonet or ARM data can be found in either the lesson plan or in other descriptions.  
 
Areas of Special Emphasis
  
These icons represent activities which emphasize certain subject categories in the classroom. It is desirable for science teachers to work with teachers in other fields to study the same concept. Many of these activities may be used either within the science class or with teachers of different disciplines in a group teaching approach. In their respective order, the icons represent agriculture, arts, chemistry, economics, English, geography, geology, mathematics, meteorology, and physics.  
 
 
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