Welcome back to a new school year!
I’ve had the privilege of visiting students across southeast Texas since 2003, and I’m excited to continue that tradition.
This year, things will look a little different. As the chief meteorologist at KPRC 2, I work nights, so I’ve made a few small adjustments to how school visits will work.
If you’re interested in having me visit your school, keep reading. Details on how to apply are at the end of this article.
What is new this year:
To make school visits work with my evening schedule and responsibilities as chief meteorologist at KPRC 2, I’ve made two small changes for the upcoming school year:
1. Larger Group Visits: This year, I won’t be able to visit individual classrooms. Instead, each visit will need to include larger groups, like all the 2nd graders, rather than just one class. If you can include additional grades (like the 3rd graders), even better!
2. Social Media Video Requirement: We’re placing more emphasis on sharing our community involvement at KPRC 2, so someone on campus, whether it’s a teacher, administrator, or student, will need to record the visit using vertical video. Ideally, this person is comfortable with social media and can help us capture the experience for our audience.
If these two changes work for your school, keep reading!
What Hasn’t Changed: Students will still get the same fun, high-energy presentation that makes weather exciting and connects science to the real world. I’ll challenge them to think beyond the daily forecast and explore the “why” behind the weather. And yes, we’ll still hit key parts of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for science.
Who I visit:
Here’s how I tailor each presentation based on grade level:
Kindergarten & 1st Grade: These visits are shorter and designed to keep younger students engaged. I read my children’s book about the water cycle and highlight one weather element from that day’s forecast. An older grade level can be added to this visit to make the most of the time on campus. ;
2nd & 3rd Grade: We dive into what drives our weather and focus on severe weather safety. Topics include how the sun powers the water cycle, how lightning forms, and how to stay safe during thunderstorms, floods, and tornadoes.
I also explain how hurricanes and tornadoes form and their impact on southeast Texas. Students will get hands-on demonstrations, like creating a cloud inside the room! We’ll explore how high and low pressure systems shape our weather, what determines wind direction, and how sunlight and the atmosphere work together to create the colors we see in the sky. These visits are 30 to 45 minutes.
4th – 5th Grade: For upper elementary students, we expand the conversation beyond Texas. I introduce current weather-related topics from across the country and around the world. We’ll talk about what students their age experience in other regions, like wildfires, tsunamis, and earthquakes, as well as how these events connect to science and safety. These visits are 45 minutes.
How to schedule:
I typically make school visits on Wednesdays. If you’re a teacher or school administrator and would like me to come to your campus, just send me an email to get started.
Please include the following in your message:
- The grade level(s) you’d like me to visit
- The number of students who will be attending
- Three date and time options that work for your school
If one of the dates works with my schedule, I’ll get back to you with further instructions.
There’s no cost for these visits. But I do love receiving thank-you notes from the students, and I’ve built quite a fun collection of school t-shirts over the years!
Getting your school ready:
To make the most of our visit, here’s what I’ll need from you:
Equipment: Please have a six-foot table available for my weather demonstrations. I’ll also need a way to display my PowerPoint presentation; this can be a Promethean board or a laptop with a projector and screen.
Photos & Video: In addition to the person recording vertical video for KPRC 2’s social media, I’d love to have someone take a few still photos during the visit. These can be shared with me afterward via AirDrop or email. The photos you see in this article were all taken by teachers and administrators. Thank you in advance for helping capture the day!
Here’s what teachers are saying:
“I was able to hear the program during 3rd-5th, and I will say that your format is working. Stick with it! I’ve seen a lot of programs over the years and this one works. It was very interesting and interactive, the questions worked, the pictures worked, your speaking style worked… and the kids loved it. Thanks for spreading your joy of learning. In the education world right now, we need more JOY!” Bilinda Soto – Teacher at Colony Meadows Elementary School in Sugar Land, Texas.
“Having you come today was such an amazing experience for students and staff, and we were all so impressed that you seemed just as happy to be there as the kids were. Your enthusiasm and love for what you do are clear as day. 🙂” Taylor Tucker, Instructional Coach - Thomas Elementary School in Richmond, Texas.