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The Bear Necessities:
A K-2 Computer Activity

Subjects

  • Science
    --Life Sciences
    ----Animals

Grade

  • K-2

Brief Description

With teacher guidance, students use a worksheet and one easy-to-read Web site to record what they know, what they want to learn, and what they do learn about polar bears.

Objectives

Students will

  • Demonstrate understanding of basic facts of polar bears based on their completed worksheets.
  • Demonstrate basic skill at scrolling on a Web page.
  • Identify key points in text.

Keywords

polar bears, KWL, seasons

Materials Needed

  • Student access to a computer. (Can be done with one teacher computer and a projector/TV monitor)
  • KWL Chart

Lesson Plan

Preparation

  • Print a copy of the KWL chart for each student. Or, if you are going to do this as a whole class activity, save a copy of the chart to your computer desktop.
  • Students also should be able to identify key points in text, either by reading or by following along as you read.

Process

  • Start the lesson by explaining to students that they are going to learn about polar bears. Ask students to think about polar bears and write down what they already know about polar bears under the K on their KWL charts. Or display the chart on your monitor, click in the column under K, and type students' answers as they respond aloud.
  • Ask students to write or say aloud what else they would like to know about polar bears: Where polar bears live and what they eat might be among the questions students have. Record that information in the section of the chart under the W.
  • Go to Enchanted Learning's Polar Bear Printout . Show students where on the page to look for the answers to their questions. Be sure to demonstrate how to scroll up and down on the page.
  • Have students read the page quietly to themselves, or read the text aloud to them. As students find information that is new to them or that answers their questions, have them write it (or record it yourself) in the section of the chart under L.
  • If students work independently, have them share with the class what they've learned.

Extension

  • Print a copy of the Enchanted Learning page for each student and have students color the polar bear.
  • Or, go to National Geographic's Creature Feature on polar bears and watch the video, hear what the bears sound like, or read more exciting facts, recording new information in the section of the chart under L.

Assessment

Students will be evaluated on

  • Understanding of basic polar bear facts, as shown on worksheet.
  • Class participation.
  • Ability to navigate the Web site.

Lesson Plan Source

Education World

Submitted By

Lorrie Jackson

National Standards

SCIENCE
GRADES K - 4
NS.K-4.1 Science as Inquiry
NS.K-4.3 Life Science