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Colorado Animals |
Credits:
Erica Simring, Thornton Elementary, Thornton, CO
Linda Block-Gandy, ESC, Thornton, CO
VITAL INFORMATION
Subject Matter:
Elementary: Science, Language Arts
Grade: 4
Software Application:
StarOffice, web browser
LESSON DESCRIPTION
Summary:
The lesson includes research and note taking by using a variety of resources. Such resources would include the Colorado Wildlife Unit, Colorado wildlife books, library books, encyclopedias and internet websites from the Adams 12 Colorado Animals links page, http://www.adams12.org/teacherweb/ad12learningcenter/cowild.htm The finished product should be a content summary report on the selected animal and an oral presentation. If this research report is done in conjunction with the Colorado Wildlife Unit, students could publish the report in a brochure format and should develop an activity to teach others about their selected animals. Guidelines and rubrics for content summary reports are in the district writing guide, Adams 12 Creating Writers Guide Grade 4. See this fourth grade guide for the information you need.
State & National Standards:
CO- Colorado Academic Standards
« Subject : Science
« Standard 1: Students understand the processes of scientific investigation and design, conduct, communicate about, and evaluate such investigations
In everyday life, we find ourselves gathering and evaluating information (data), noting and wondering about patterns and regularities, devising and testing possible explanations for how things work, and discussing ideas with others. These characteristically human activities mirror in many ways how scientists think and work. Scientific investigation (inquiry) often begins with a question or problem and usually ends with further questions to investigate. Such investigations may include long-term field studies and are not limited to direct experimentation in a lab setting. They involve the identification and control of variables. Inquiry in the science classroom helps students develop a useful base of scientific knowledge, communicated in increasingly mathematical and conceptual ways as they progress through school. In addition, scientific inquiry stimulates student interest, motivation, and creativity. Designing and conducting investigations encourages students to interpret, analyze, and evaluate what is known, how we know it, and how scientific questions are answered. The knowledge and skills related to scientific inquiry enable students to understand how science works, and are powerful ways for students to build their understanding of the scientific facts, principles, concepts, and applications that are described in the other science content standards, particularly standards two, three, and four. To comprehend the world around them, students need opportunities to pursue questions that are relevant to them and to learn how to conduct scientific investigations. Some scientific inquiries can only be investigated by the use of models since actual events are not repeatable.
« Grade/Level : CO- Colorado Academic Standards
« Grade/Level : Grades K-4
Performance Indicator : selecting and using simple devices to gather data related to an investigation (for example, length, volume, and mass measuring instruments, thermometers, watches, magnifiers, microscopes, calculators, and computers);
Performance Indicator : communicating about investigations and explanations
« Standard 3: Life Science: Students know and understand the characteristics and structure of living things, the processes of life, and how living things interact with each other and their environment. (Focus: Biology-- Anatomy, Physiology, Botany, Zoology, Ecology)
« Key Idea 3.1: Students know and understand the characteristics of living things, the diversity of life, and how living things interact with each other and with their environment
« Grade/Level : Grades K-4
Performance Indicator : describing the basic needs (for example, food, water, air, shelter, space) of an organism
Performance Indicator : giving examples of how organisms interact with each other and with nonliving parts of their habitat
Local Standards:
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SKILLS CONTINUUM
Adams 12 Technology Standard #2: Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
2A.3.2 Utilizes different document layouts. (i.e. newsletter, etc.
2A.3.3 Changes document formatting such as: alignment, bulleted/numbered lists, borders, line spacing, margins, etc
2A.3.4 Inserts a graphic into a word-processed document
Adams 12 Technology Standard #3: Students use telecommunications to retrieve and exchange information which supports and enhances District 12 curriculum frameworks.
3C.1 Routinely uses teacher-selected Internet sites and/or links to retrieve information for classroom assignments.
3C.2 Uses search strategies to locate information.
3C.3 Saves and/or prints information from the Internet.
3D.1 Begins to distinguish among sources of information. (i.e. university, commercial, and government sites.)
3D.2 Begins to recognize the differences between content and advertisements on web pages.
3D.3 Cites electronic sources correctly.
3D.4 Develops skills to evaluate the accuracy of information obtained from electronic resources.
Lesson Outcomes:
The students are expected to learn about various Colorado animals that are native to the land. They will also gain an understanding of how these animals survive due to their physical and behavioral adaptations and how these adaptations relate to the life zones that they inhabit. Language Arts research and writing skills are taught using student interest in animals as a focus point and the computer as a writing tool to create a content summary report.
Assessment:
Formative assessments include ongoing discussions and observations about what the students have researched and learned about their animals. Notes and outlines will be checked throughout the project. Use of the internet sites for research, producing a content summary report using word processing, and creating a presentation would show success using technology.
Assessment/Rubrics:
Rubrics:
Language Arts: Use Adams 12 Fourth Grade Content Summary Report Rubric
Science Checklist:
Within the report, the student:
à describes the animal using appropriate science and fourth grade words
à gives facts about the animal
à tells what it eats and describes its place in a food chain
à describes behavioral and physical adaptations of the animal and explains why they are important to the animal
à explains how the animal is adapted to its particular life zone
à describes the habitat of the animal
CLASSROOM & TIME MANAGEMENT
Student Prerequisites:
Students will need to know the following:
à how to log on to a website
à how to use jots to take notes
à how to write a content summary paragraph
à how to write resources in bibliographical format; e.g., websites, books, magazine articles, encyclopedias
à how to create a bibliography
Lesson Preparation:
Review websites, gather appropriate print materials. These will vary depending upon available resources in your school's library media center.
Time Frame:
8 class periods. 45 minutes per class
Implementation Steps:
1. Teacher explains the project and the expected outcomes.
2. Students review the material and select their animals with teacher assistance to make sure theyêre native to Colorado.
3. Students conduct research using a variety of print materials and electronic resources.
4. Students use their notes to create a content summary report on their animals.
5. Students create an activity to teach others what they have learned about their animals (optional).
6. Students will then do a whole class presentation or teach others through an –animal share.” Students are assigned to small groups to present their reports or brochures for students to read. Then students share their activities.
RESOURCES
Lesson Resources:
Adams 12 Colorado Wildlife Unit
Adams 12 Creative Writers Guide Grade 4
On the Trail of Colorado Critters, ISBN 1-56579-350-1
Wildlife Explorer ISBN 1-886614-77-6
Writers Express
Links:
1. Adams12 iTec Center
-Colorado Wildlife Links http://www.adams12.org/teacherweb/ad12learningcenter/cowild.htm
2. Enchanted Learning
- http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/Home.html
