Teacher Case Study: Anthony Johnson

5th grade Science teacher Anthony Johnson used the Weather Reporter: Reducing the Impact of Severe Weather performance task.

A Defined STEM Learning Experience From:

Anthony Johnson

5th Grade Science Teacher

Lincoln Intermediate (NC)


Performance Task: Weather Reporter: Reducing the Impact of Severe Weather


Here’s What We Did:

A weather unit was already part of my plans so I decided to use the Defined STEM Weather Reporter performance task. I integrated a few of my other weather projects, like launching a weather balloon, into the Defined STEM lesson.


The kids went all out with the project. Kids who couldn’t have cared less about school were suddenly doing weather forecasting in their backyard and sending videos and emails to each other at night. Even parents noticed how excited the kids were and how much less stressed they were.  


Check out Mr. Johnson’s class in action.


Why Defined STEM Was the Perfect Fit:

At the end of the school year kids just get antsy. They are really stressed out from all the practice drills for end of year testing. We have more behavioral incidents and kids just don’t want to come to school. I wanted to find something that would get the kids excited about coming to school those last few weeks.