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Assignment
Grades 11-12

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Lesson Plan
1. Before Exploring
2. Outline the Opportunity
3. Revisit and Reflect
4. Extension

CBC Archives Topic: The Ice Storm of 1998

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Why Do Ice Storms Occur?

Activity Overview

Subjects
Geography
Science

Summary
Students create a fact sheet and a visual presentation describing in chronological order the atmospheric conditions that lead to an ice storm.

Duration
1 to 2 lessons

Purpose
To understand atmospheric conditions necessary for an ice storm to occur

CBC Archives Topic
The Ice Storm of 1998

1. Before Exploring

Ask: What is an ice storm? How might it form? Discuss the possible impacts, both human and physical, of a mild versus a severe ice storm.

2. Outline the Opportunity

Direct students to “Did you know” for Clips 1, 2, and 4, as well as the CBC Newsworld link, Peter Grogono’s link, and Environment Canada: Map of Ice Storm Freezing Rain Accumulations. Have students use the information from these sources to create a fact sheet describing, in chronological order, the atmospheric conditions that must exist in order for an ice storm to occur. Students may wish to visit Environment Canada’s Web site (www.ec.gc.ca) and examine the detailed information provided about the Ice Storm ’98 under the weather section, and add any new information to their fact sheet.
Next, pairs of students should work together, using both of their fact sheets, to create a visual explanation of the stages in the development and formation of an ice storm. Presentations might include diagrams, models, overheads, and so on.

3. Revisit and Reflect

Display students’ work and ask each pair to explain why they created their presentation in the manner that they did. Each pair should explain to the class how an ice storm is created.
Encourage class discussion of each presentation, including consideration of the effectiveness of the presentation and whether all pertinent information was included.

4. Extension

There are specific atmospheric conditions that cause hail storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunder, and lightning to occur. Have students complete a research paper on the formation of more or more of these atmospheric phenomena.