View Content #27798

This activity was designed accompany an interaction in a Complex Learning Scenario (CLS) in which learners are tasked with listening to a weather report and discerning a passcode by putting the temperatures mentioned in geographical order. It was designed for Novice High learners.

Outcomes: Learners will be able to:

• Listen for specific details within a weather report.

• Use details to make a decision.

Materials: A weather report (here is our transcript in Spanish), handout

Procedure: 

1. Begin by asking learners to figure out the passcode embedded in the weather report (in this case, they must put the temperatures mentioned in geographical order). They should work together in groups of 4 and may listen to the report as many times as are needed. If they struggle, provide them with clues like those which are listed below. Make sure to use the most ambiguous nudges first to protect learner opportunities to engage cognitively.

1. Mexico is north of Chile.

2. If I am planning a trip through Latin America, I better pay attention to the geographical order of all of the countries.

3. Your passcode is the temperatures in geographic order (N to S)

2. After that, debrief with the students. Provide them with the handout and lead a class discussion about listening strategies to complete the first section.

3. Next. ask that the learners engage with the weather report again. Explain that they are tasked with listening for specific details to inform their clothing choices. They should fill in the rest of the handout as they listen.

4. Provide a few minutes, if learners need it, for the learners to describe the best outfit for each weather situation.

5. Have learners compare their answers. 

6. Finally, debrief with learners. Ask that they reflect on what listening strategies they used as they listened to the weather report and the success of those strategies.