Ms. Perry's DINOmite Dinosaur World!
Technology Integrated Lesson

Annotation
The "Dinosaur World" lesson could be used with children in first grade through forth grade.  This lesson is designed for First Grade level students.  The students will begin with a hands-on technology research activity.  The students will research the topic of dinosaurs 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 tell about at least two theories behind the extinction of the dinosaurs and chose the theory they think applies with the research information and the guidance of the teacher.
 

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

Grade: K
Subject Area: Language Arts
Strand: Written Communication
41 Topic: Reference/Study
Standard: Explores the uses of the media center, picture books, audiovisual resources, and available technology for reading and writing.
 

Total Duration:
45 minutes

Materials and Equipment:
1. Paper for drawing and writing
2. Crayons (at least 8 colors) and a pencil (one per student)
3. Pencil & paper (to make notes for lesson plan assessment and reflections)
 

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 the topic of dinosaurs by asking them: "Have you ever studied or read about dinosaurs?"  "Can you tell me something about dinosaurs?"  Today we are going to learn about dinosaurs by visiting websites on the Internet and do a fun activity about the extinction of the dinosaurs.  I have made a special dinosaur page for your class.  (During discussion have students turn around away from the computer to interact.)

Estimated Time:
5 minutes

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

Web Links:
TopicQuest Page at:  http://www.valdosta.edu/~arperry/topic.html
Enchanted Learning Web site at: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/extinction/

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 websites.  Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited websites.

Estimated time:
15 minutes

Step Three
Guided Practice:
Read scenario mission to students.  Explain to student that they are going to pretend to be paleontologists.  Discuss what a paleontologist is and what a paleontologist does. 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, "Ms. Perry's DINOmite Dionsaur World."  Discuss the web pages with the students to emphasize interesting and important information students will need to complete mission project.
 

Estimated Time:
10 minutes

Step Four
Independent Practice:
Students will write (or dictate to teacher) information to be included in hi/her presentation to hi/her "students" for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.

Estimated Time:
10 minutes

Step Five
Closure:
Have students discuss their findings and what they have learned about the extinction of dinosaurs. 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 dinosaur projects on the Internet and they will be able to share their mission projects 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. I have worked with a student who has been diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder). This student has a hard time
staying still for the length of a lesson. He is very intelligent, but has a hard time paying attention. He frequently disturbs the class
by making loud noises or moving around.

2. http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/add.html

3. I believe that this special student would benefit from this lesson. He works well in small groups or in a one on one teacher
student conference. He will hopefully be able to stay focused on this lesson since there is a great deal of interaction with the
teacher.

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 involved in this lesson seemed to be engaged and benefited from the lesson. This lesson created learning experiences and activiteies that made the subject matter meaningful by allowing students to use the internet to research the extintion of the dinosaurs. The students were successful in researching the theories of the extinction and proposed the theory they thought to be logical. Students were able to prove their knowledge by creating a drawing of their prefered theory.

    b. Describe and give examples of how your TopicQuest lesson illustrated your understanding of content and tools of inquiry.
My understanding of content and tools of inquiry was demonstarted by my ability to exectute my own research on the extinction of the dinosaurs. I was able to find appropriate, interative sites for children to link on my web page. I was able to guide the students through the sites by previously gaining knowkedge about each site. I was also able to assess each child appropriately by listening atentively and guiding students as they made their own decisions about the extinction of the dinosaurs.

    c. Describe and give examples of how students were engaged in learning and responded during your lesson.
Both students were engaged and responded well to all propsed questions and comments. Each student took a turn speaking about what she knew about dinosaurs and how they became extinct. Both students manipulated the computer actively and correctly. Each student was able to point and click on the pictures on the web site and successfuly participate at the interactive links. Each students' drawing was interpreted verbally by the student and correctly portrayed at least one theory of the extinction of the dinosaurs.

  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 will be assessed through the use of the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission project.
        Student One: Carly- Pre-Kindergarten: Satisfactory. Carly was able to use the computer with quidence to execute the required research and found the appropriate information to complete the mission. Carly was able to scroll up and down on the web page with little assitance. She was able to click on each link and participated in the activity presented on the site.
        Student Two: Amanda- Second Grade: Satisfactory. Amanda was able to use the computer with little quidence to exectue the required research and found the appropriate information to complete the mission. Amanda was able to scroll up and down the web page with no assistance. She was able to click on each link and participate in the activity presented on the site.

    b. Language Arts: Student will be assessed for exploring the uses of technology for writing.
        Student One: Carly- Satisfactory. Carly was able to dictate information for mission project that was obtained while exploring the Internet. With reading assistance, Carly was able to understand each extinction theory.
        Student Two: Amanda- Satisfactory. Amanda was able to dictate information for mission project that was obtained while exploring the Internet. Amanda was able to read the information on the web sites, and understand each extinction theory.

3. Describe what you would do differently and why if you taught this lesson again.
I would try changing the mission a bit if I taught this lesson again. Amanda and Carly seemed to like the lesson, but they were both more interested in the web sites that were not related to the extinction. I might change the mission to something like fossils. Amanda sudjested that. :)

TopicQuest Page

Ms. Perry's Class Page

arperry@valdosta.edu