TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson:
Marine Biologist

Primary Learning Outcome (PLO):
The primary learning outcomes to be achieved with this lesson include:
A. With teacher guidance students will be able to use the computer to research information on the Internet.
 

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

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

Technology Connection:
Technologies that will be used in this lesson include:

• Computer with Internet connection.
• Students will use computers to research information on the Internet.
• Copy of my TopicQuest Web page included with this lesson plan.
• TopicQuest Web page Title: Under The Sea: A Place Full Of Adventure and Fun   &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~bdjeffer/topic.html.

Procedures:
Step One: Introduction
Have a small group of students go to a computer.  Explain to students that you are going to use the computer to find out information about ocean life.  List 2 or more questions that introduce students to topic of life in the ocean that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "Have you ever been to the ocean?"  "What are some of the animals that live in the ocean?"   Today we are going to learn about the ocean and the types of animals that live there by visiting websites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about dinosaurs. I have made a special oceanpage for your class.  (During discussion have students turn around away from the computer to interact.)

Estimated Time for Step One:
5 minutes

Step TwoTeaching the Primary Learning Outcomes:
(Have students sit at the computer where they can control the mouse and computer.)  (Explain to students the process of the lesson.)  After we visit several websites about different sea animals and ocean life you will have to pass a quiz to become a marine biologist and then you will pretend that your assignment is to discover a new species in the ocean. You will draw and color your animal after you name it.

Check for understanding
Have students explore and discuss the information in each of the 3 or 4 pre-selected websites.  Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited websites.  (Save "Under the Sea: A Place Full of Adventure and Fun" website to use in Mission Project.)  List three or more questions.
1. How many groups of fish are in the ocean?
2.What is happening to green sea turtles all over the world?
3.How are beaches formed?

Practice and feedback related to the PLO
Read mission project to students.  Explain to students that they are going to be marine biologist.  Discuss with the students what a marine biologist is. Tell the students that the information that they will need to complete their mission project is listed and connected in the  mission activity.  Visit website for information for mission project, "Under the Sea: A Place Full of Adventure and Fun."  Discuss the information in the linked website in the mission activity with the students to emphasize interesting and important information students will need to complete mission project.
 

[Students will write (or dictate to teacher) information to be included in the science lab and draw pictures for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.]
 
 

Mission     Now you will take your last journey under the deep blue sea! Now that you have learned about all the animals and plants that live in the ocean, I would like for you to complete a mission.  Let's find out how to become an Official Marine Biologist in Mrs. Payton's Class. A marine biologist is someone who studies life under the sea.     First you have to take a quiz and see if you know all the facts about the ocean! If you pass the quiz you are an official Marine Biologist, it is your job to discover life under the sea. You will create your own sea animal that you've discovered, it doesn't have to be realistic it can be make belive, use your imagination! Remember that this will be posted on the internet for everyone to see!  Good Luck and Have Fun!!! Mission Steps Step 1: Before you take the quiz, you need to review the animals that we learned about by going to the website, learn more about. Step 2: Read the facts about the different animals and then take the quiz. Step 3: Putt on your thinking caps and scuba gear.  You have just gotten your first assignment to go and discover a new creature in the ocean.  Step 4: Create and draw the sea animal that you discovered. Write a brief summary about the animal explaining where you found it and what type of species it is. It can be anything that you want it to be, don't forget to give it a name! Use your imagination!

Step Three
Closure:
Have students discuss their mission project of their pictures and information they found on the Internet about the ocean.  Tell students that your topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or home to learn more about the ocean.  Explain to students that you are going to put their discription and pictureson 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 for Step Three:
5 minutes
 

Assessment:
A. Technology Integration K-10
Student will be assessed through observation while using 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.
 

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 "special student" is in Kindergarten and he/she has a speech disability.  Everyday he goes to the speech theropist. He has/she a hard time pronouncing and using correct vocabulary.

2. List the specific 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.speechtx.com.

3. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student? If I had this student I would not make them answer out loud unless they wanted to participate. I would read to them on a one-on-one basis and I would have the student read out loud to me. I would also make sure that I pronounce my words correctly and clearly so that they will understand. 

Reflections: (For Electronic Portfolio under Standard #1 Knowledge of Subject Matter)

1. a. My TopicQuest gave my students insight on facts about the ocean.  They are learnung about ocean life in the classroom and my web page topic is about the ocean and life in the ocean.  i had several web links that showed my students the different animals that are in the ocean.  Four links that my students looked at were fabulous fish, sea turtles, beaches, and sea games.

    b. My TopicQuest illustrated inqury on the lesson by having links that pertained to what my students were learning in class. They were learning about the ocean and animala in the ocean and my TopicQuest had facts about that.

    c. When my students looked at the link on the sea turtles they were very impressed with what they learned. They learned that there are many sea turtles in the world who are dying from a disease., the link had a sea turtle with the disease on it, and they have never seen that before. I recieved a very positive feedback from my students. They were very interested in the lesson.

  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: Satisfactory: Student one achieved the assessment of my lesson well. They were able to grasp the concept of the lesson very well. They past the quiz on the ocean. They also knew how to use the mouse and the monitor.
        Student Two: Satisfactory: Student two did very well with achieving the assessment of the lesson. The were able to follow along with the concept of the lesson.  They also knew how to control the mouse and monitor.
 

3. If I taught this lesson again, I would not spend so much time on the links.  I took a little longer than expected on each link because the students were very interested in the links. I would do this because it would make the lesson flow alot easier and they won't have to feel rushed at the end when it's time to do the mission.
 
 

(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) Chara, a kindergartner in Mrs. Payton's class, drew a picture of several animals in the sea. She drew a starfish, a dolphin, a eel, and an octupus.  She hopes that one day she will be able to see these animals in person.	(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) Kwiesi, a kindergartner in mrs. Payton's class, drew a picture of an eel. He drew this picture because he likes eels and he says that they are cool animals.