Special Assignment

By Lois Lewis

Grade Level: 3-6

Story Preview: Zoe Brown is unhappy. She thinks her teacher gave her the most boring topic for her computer class�s Web site project. When Zoe starts her research, she finds an unusual online source that provides her with important -- possibly life-saving -- information that changes her mind about her assignment.

Additional Resources

Invite students to investigate weather safety on the Web. You might want them to begin their research with the resources below:
* FEMA for Kids: The Disaster Area
* Weather Wiz Kids Weather Safety
* Web Weather for Kids: Weather Safety
For your files: You also might check out The Weather Channel�s Safeside section which provides detailed information about weather safety.

Roles: Narrators 1 and 2, Ms. Java, Zoe Brown, Cumulus the Cloud, Tornado, Hurricane, Lightning, Nina, Brad, students in class

Setting: present day, computer classroom and home

Theme(s): weather, weather safety, creating a Web site

Vocabulary:

content: subject matter for a report, paper or website
Cumulus cloud: thick, puffy low cloud
interactive: shared; information exchanged between a user and a computer
booklet: printed material that can be folded; handbill; flyer
section: part, portion, segment
slumps: sinks, slouches
topic: subject, theme

Props: (Optional) envelopes, desk for Ms. Java; chair, desk, computer or picture of a computer; large sheet of paper for Zoe; chairs and picture of a school bus for Zoe, Brad and Nina; student-made or researched pictures of a cumulus cloud, tornado, hurricane and lightning

Follow-Up Questions:

What big project did Ms. Java assign to the class? What did each student have to develop as part of the project?
How did Ms. Java tell each student about his or her individual assignment?
What was Zoe�s assigned topic? Why did she want to change it?
What site did Zoe explore? What was her guide�s name? What information was presented at that site?
Name two weather conditions Zoe learned about. What safety information did she learn about those conditions?
What did Zoe create for her page?
Why did the students in the school choose Zoe�s page as one of their favorites?
At the end of the project, how did Zoe�s feelings about her topic change?

Follow-Up Activities: Discuss with students the types of weather conditions that affect your area. Ask them if any of those conditions were mentioned in the play. Then have students research safety information related to your local weather. You also might have students create with their families emergency plans for weather disasters. In addition, you might want to use this play as a motivation or follow-up activity for building a class Web site.

Additional Notes: Get the basics about building a Web site from the Education World technology article You Can Create a Class Web Site. That feature provides a step-by-step guide plus additional resources on Web design.

Click here for a printable script.

05/17/2007