Subjects
- Science
--Life Sciences
----Biology
----Animals
Grade
Brief Description
Using an age-appropriate reference site, students identify three facts
on a dangerous animal then record those facts on a printable graphic organizer.
Objectives
Students will:
- Identify three important animal facts using information from a single Web site.
- Record those facts on paper.
- Transfer those facts onto an online graphic organizer.
Keywords
animals, graphic organizer, zoology
Materials Needed
- Internet access
- Pen and paper
- Ability to display teacher computer, such as a projector or TV monitor (optional)
Lesson Plan
Prior to this lesson, students should be comfortable opening and closing windows, as well as clicking icons on a computer Desktop. Also, be sure to create on the Desktop a shortcut to the sites below:
To create shortcuts, open your Internet browser (Internet Explorer,
Foxfire, Safari…) and type in the URL for one of the above Web sites.
When the page opens, drag the Web site address (URL) from the Address
Bar to the computer Desktop. An icon will appear with the Web site address
as the title. Click the icon and rename it something very simple, such
as "Animals" or "Organizer." Be sure to add the shortcuts to every computer
(lab or classroom) to be used in this assignment.
Begin the lesson by asking students to pretend that a NASA space probe recently discovered a large animal living on Mars. Ask what they would like to find out about this new animal if they were NASA scientists. Questions might include, "What does it eat?" "How big is it?" "When and where does it sleep?" "When it's a baby, what does it look like?" Write students' responses on the chalkboard.
Next, ask students to choose the three most important questions on the board. Those might include habitat, food, behaviors, or other characteristics. Explain to students that they are going to look for answers to those questions, but the answers won't be about an imaginary animal; they're going to find out about some dangerous animals.
Walk students through the following steps:
- Click the shortcut called "Animals."
- Choose an animal you want to learn more about.
Point out to students that they can choose from six poisonous
animals, or they can click the word "Venomous" in the menu at the
top of the page and choose from more animals there. They also can
look for dangerous animal in any of the other animal categories.
- After your choice of animal is approved, read the information about
your animal. Using the three questions circled on the chalkboard as
a guide, write down three important facts about your animal. One of
those facts should explain why the animal is dangerous.
- Close the window about animals and click the shortcut called "Organizer."
- Follow the directions at the site for creating an Animal Facts organizer.
- After your work is approved, print your organizer.
You can display students' work in the classroom or collect their work in a binder and place it in the reading center for browsing.
Assessment
Students will e evaluated on their
- printed graphic organizer containing three animal facts.
- ability to manage time.
- ability to navigate Web sites.
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
Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World
10/12/2005
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