Fifth graders in Heather Berkompas’ class at IRE are using a simulator on their school-issued Chromebooks to manipulate the path of water molecules and experience how the rain cycle works.
Students learn about water vapor in the air and where it comes from. Using their school-issued Chromebooks, they can create a simulation where they are able to move water molecules with the wind and see how that affects where rain falls. Students can replay the run to look closely at individual molecules, and track their path. Later they will use the simulator to investigate the temperature of different parts of the atmosphere and see how that affects water molecules.
“They are engaged in the learning and have access at their fingertips to making science happen. They can make the weather!” Berkompas said.
After a few simulations on their laptops, students had a discussion in class about the path the water molecules followed and water vapor in the air. They then write down their observations.
During the lesson, students learn about the rain shadow effect and then can see it in action using the simulator. This helps them to understand why one area may get more water (rain) than another in an interactive and visual way.
“Students really do love using the simulator to see things that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to, unless it was just told to them,” Berkompas said. “They get to be the wind and move the molecules. They get to be as hands on and up close as possible without actually going in an airplane with a microscope to see molecules condensing!”