Are Our Homes Built for Severe Weather?

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  • Introduction
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  • Impacts of Severe Weather
  • Explore Severe Weather
  • Maryland Weather
  • Graphing Maryland Weather
  • Weather and Climate
  • Protecting Homes from Severe Weather
  • Protect a Home
  • Weatherproof Your Home
  • Final Project
  • Glossary

Final Project

pencil and notepad
Now is your chance to show off your writing skills.

How much have you learned about protecting our homes from severe weather? Now is your chance to show off your new expertise! Pick one of the following assignments and write a response in your Engineering Portfolio. You may use page 17 in your portfolio for a pre-planning outline, and write your final draft on page 18.

Review the grading rubric rubric before getting started.

1. Develop a weatherproofing guide for families who live in Maryland. In the guide, write down your advice about what they should do to weatherproof their homes.

Rubric: Provide at least 3 severe weather events that occur in Maryland. For each event, suggest 2 weatherproofing actions or materials that will protect a home. Total possible points: 10.

2. Sandra is a third-grade student who recently moved from Alaska to Maryland. Right after she moved, the region had heavy rain, strong winds, and flood and hurricane warnings. She is nervous about Maryland's severe weather. Write a letter to Sandra explaining what the impact of a hurricane could be like, and give her some advice about what she and her family can do to protect their home.

Rubric: Give 2-3 examples of potential hurricane damage. Recommend at least 3 weatherproofing actions or materials to protect Sandra's home from weather damage. Total possible points: 10.

3. Write a letter to homebuilders and encourage them to use weatherproofing materials that will keep homeowners safe from severe weather conditions.

Rubric: Provide at least 3 possible severe weather events. For each of these events, recommend 2 weatherproofing materials or actions that can protect a home. Total possible points: 10.

Congratulations! You have finished this STEM lesson.

Teacher Note

Go over the three writing assignments and review the rubrics with students before they begin. The projects are online and on page 16 of students' Engineering Portfolios. Students should choose one of the assignments to complete. As they write, encourage students to refer back to information they recorded in their Engineering Portfolios.

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