Name:  Angie Sowell
School:  Lake Park Elementary
Grade Level:  1st

Annotation
The "Fantastic Fall Fun TopicQuest" lesson could be used with children in kindergarten through third grade.
This lesson is designed for 1st grade level students.  The students will begin with a hands-on technology research activity.
The students will research the topic of fall through connecting Internet links on the topicquest page that I developed for
my field class students.  This is a cross-curricular lesson integrating science, language arts, technology, and art.

Primary Learning Outcome:
With teacher guidance students will be able to research the Internet and use the computer to explore and find information to
complete the scenario activity.   Students will be able to describe and compare two elements of fall  with the research
information and the guidance of the teacher.
 

Assessed QCC:
Grade: 1
Subject Area: Technology Integration
Strand: Research
11 Topic: Research
Standard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.

Grade: 1
Subject Area: Language Arts
Strand: Written Communication
51 Topic: Reference/Study
Standard: Uses the media center and available technology as sources of information and pleasure.
 

Total Duration:
45 minutes

Materials and Equipment:
1. Paper for drawing
2. Crayons
3. Pencil & paper (to make notes for lesson plan assessment and reflections)
4. Modification of a lesson developed by Dr. Diane L. Judd
 

Technology Connection:
Technologies that will be used in this lesson include:
1. Computer with Internet connection

Procedures:

Step One
Introduction: (Connecting Old Knowledge to New Knowledge)
Have a small group of students go to a computer.  Introduce students to topic of fall by asking them: "Have you ever
studied or read about the fall season?"  "Can you tell me something associated with fall?"  Today we are going to learn about fall by visiting websites on the Internet and do a fun activity about fall.  I have made a special fall page for your class.
(During discussion have students turn around away from the computer to interact.)  Ask them "What are some holidays associated with fall?" & "What is your favorite fall food?"

Estimated Time:
5 minutes

Lesson Materials to be Attached:
Attached is a copy of my topicquest website with scenario activity used in lesson.

Web Links:
TopicQuest Page at:  http://www.valdosta.edu/~aksowell/topic.html
The First Thanksgiving at:  http://teacher.scholastic.com/thanksgiving/plimoth/index.htm

Step Two
Teaching:
Have students sit at the computer where they can control the mouse and computer.  Introduce topicquest page to
students and visit several pre-selected websites.  Have students explore and discuss the information in each of the visited
website.  Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited websites.  (Will save "The First Thanksgiving" website to use in Step Four.)

Estimated time:
15 minutes

Step Three
Guided Practice:
Read scenario mission to students.  Explain to student that they are going to be teachers of their own class  Discuss teachers with the students and explain to them that they will be creating an example for their students. Tell the students that the information that they will need to complete their mission project is listed and connected in the scenario mission.  Visit website for information for mission project, "The First Thanksgiving."  Discuss the web pages with the students to emphasize interesting and important information students will need to complete mission project.
 
 
 
 

Scenario Mission      Imagine that you are a teacher.  You have your own classroom of twenty students.  You have just finished a lesson on Halloween and your next lesson will be about Thanksgiving.  Before you begin the Thanksgiving lesson you will have your students draw a special picture for school's Fall Festival.     Before you give the students their assignment you will create a sample picture.  This will help your students to understand what is expected of them.  You have decided to ask the students to draw a picture depicting at least one element of fall.  They can draw anything from pumpkins to pilgrims.  This is a very special project because everyone's fall pictures will be displayed at the Fall Festival.     It is now your job to draw the example for your students. Remember to include at least one element of fall, but you can use more if you like.  Use this topic page to help tickle your creative bones.  Web sites like www.pumkinnook.com will help with your mission.  Good Luck!     Mission Steps 1)  Explore all of the wonderful web sites above like       www.squirrels.org/index.html. 2)  As you are visiting the web sites begin to think about the fall images you want to draw for your Fall Festival picture. 3)  Start work on drawing your masterpiece. 4)  Give the drawing to your teacher.  Make sure you are able to explain the drawing to her if she asks.  Your teacher will put your picture on the internet. You might even be asked to share your drawing with the class.      Topic Quest Lesson Plan

Estimated Time:
10 minutes

Step Four
Independent Practice:
Students will write (or dictate to teacher) information to be included in the picture for the fall festival poster.
While students are completing the picture, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.

Estimated Time:
10 minutes

Step Five
Closure:
Have students discuss their fall festival posters and what they have learned about fall.  Tell students that your
topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or home any time.  Explain to students that you are
going to put their  pictures on the Internet and they will be able to share their project with their friends and
family.  (If possible teacher should take brief notes during the lesson and concluding discussions to be added later to the
assessment and reflections in lesson plan.)

Estimated Time:
5 minutes
 

Assessment:
Technology Integration K-10
Student will be assessed through the use of the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the
mission project.
Satisfactory: Student is able to use the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission
project.
Unsatisfactory: Student is not able to use the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the
mission project.

Language Arts K-41
Student will be assessed for exploring the uses of technology for writing.
Satisfactory: Student is able to write or dictate information for mission project that was obtained while exploring the Internet.
Unsatisfactory: Student is not able to write or dictate information for mission project while exploring the Internet.
 

Accommodation:
Links for Accommodations for Special Students
1. Select one of your students that needs special attention.  Describe the student in your class with special needs. (Do not use
the student's real name.  You could refer to the student as "the special student.")  My student has attention deficit disorder.  This
student has trouble staying on task, he gets distracted easily.

2. List the URL address of one Internet resource website, where you found information to assist you to work with your special
needs student. Information for assisting special students:  Links for Accommodations for Special Students or you can do a
search.

http://www.teachervision.com/

3. Explain what you could add to a lesson plan to accommodate your special student?  For this student I would have to do this
lesson plan with just him alone.  I would simplify and shorten the directions.  I would also have to work closely with this student
to keep him on task.
 
 

Reflections: (For Electronic Portfolio under Standard #1 Knowledge of Subject Matter)
1. a. Describe and give examples of how your TopicQuest lesson created learning experiences and activities that makes subject
matter meaningful for students.

    The students learned many different things about fall.  They visited several websites to give them information, as well as visuals.  The activity at the end of the lesson (the drawing) demonstrated their comprehension of aspects of the season fall.

    b. Describe and give examples of how your TopicQuest lesson illustrated your understanding of content and tools of inquiry.

    I not only looked at each of the websites that I connected to my lesson, but I also made notes about each website.  By doing this I was able to remember and point out the  main points from each websites to the students.

    c. Describe and give examples of how students were engaged in learning and responded during your lesson.

        The students were very eager to work on a "special project" on the computer.  They liked being able to click on the different websites from one central location.  They sometimes did not want to move from a website.  They liked to explore every part of the website.  They did not ask questions as much as they told stories about fall.  They talked a lot about Thanksgiving and things to do with nature and fall.

  2. Describe and give examples of how the students achieved the assessment of your lesson. Give the achievement level
(satisfactory or unsatisfactory) for each assessment for each of your students.
    a. Technology Integration:
        Student One:  The student successfully searched each site to gain information about fall.  The student was able to connect this new information with old information.
        Student Two:  This student also successfully searched each site with ease to gain new knowledge about fall.  After the student searched each site I asked questions to check understanding, both students fully understood aspects of fall.

    b. Language Arts:
        Student One:  Student one was able to satisfactorily draw a picture containing an element of fall.  She also ws able to describe the picture to me.
        Student Two:  Student two also satisfactorily drew a picture with elements of fall.  He was able to describe his picture just as student one did.
 

3. Describe what you would do differently and why if you taught this lesson again.  The main thing I would change about this lesson was the websites I chose.  Some of the sites contained great information about fall, but were a little too in depth for this assignment.  While I was able to talk the children through these websites, I needed websites that they could navigate and fully understand on their own.
 
 

A first grade student drew this picture of a female and male Indian.  The female Indian has a basket filled with foods like vegetables and breads.  She said the food was for their feast. She also told me the man Indian had cooked a deer for the feast.	This picture was drawn by a first grade student.  He chose Thanksgiving as the element of fall for his picture.  He said the pumpkin would be served on Thanksgiving, in a pie.  On each side of the pumpkin are different fruits and vegetables.  The student told me the fruits and vegetables would also be served at Thanksgiving dinner.