The crew undertakes a critical mission about a predicted El Nino event that may have disastrous effects for life and economics around the world. Working in teams of four, students take on the roles of navigator, communications expert, data collector, and data analyst, to determine if an El Nino weather pattern is forming. After developing a hypothesis, students test it by gathering and analyzing real NASA and NOAA data on sea surface temperature and pressure, wind and currents, and clouds and precipitation. According to the assigned role, each student is given a student activity booklet, and then follow the scientific method to establish a hypothesis on the climate by learning about sea surface temperature and climate patterns. These investigation processes are finished by submitting supporting evidence and conclusions about the climate.
Students then receive a final report about the validity of their hypothesis.
The teacher's guide provides directions for using the CD-ROM and indicates connections between the disc and the school curriculum. It also provides detailed scientific background, an assessment rubric with worksheet masters, and a step by step scientific inquiry framework. Excellence in Software Award, Codie Award. Rated 4 stars out of 5. The link is to the homepage of Children's Software Revue.