The Awesome Alphabet TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson:
The Awesome Alphabet

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 or markers
3. Stapler
4. Pencil & paper (to make notes for lesson plan assessment and reflections)
5. Modification of a  lesson developed by Dr. Diane L. Judd
6. String for binding (optional)
7. Construction paper for book cover

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: The Awesome Alphabet   &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~blpayne/topic.html.

Procedures:
Step One: Introduction
Have a small group of students go to a computer.  List 2 or more questions that introduce students to topic of alphabet that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "What is the group of letters called we use to form words into stories?"  "Can you tell me how many letters there are in the alphabet?"   Today we are going to learn about the alphabet by visiting websites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about the alphabet. (Give explanation of importance of lesson to students' lives today or in the future.)  I have made a special alphabet page for your class.  (During discussion have students turn around away from the computer to interact.)

Estimated Time for Step One:
5 minutes

Step Two Teaching 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 the alphabet then you will pretend to be teaching a foreign child the english language so make an alphabet book with letters, words, and pictures that will help you to fully explain this concept.

Check for understanding
Have students explore and discuss the information in each of 3 or 4 pre-selected websites.  Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited websites.  (Save "Learning Planet" or "upper and lower case" website to use in Mission Project.) 
1.  Can someone tell me an animal that begins with the letter "D?"
2.  Can someone tell me a food that begins with the letter "I?"
3.  Can someone name an object found on a farm that begins with the letter "W?"

Practice and feedback related to the PLO
Read mission project to students.  Explain to student that they are going to be a teacher for a foreign child.  Discuss the alphabet with students and explain to them the importance of letters by showing them words or reading a story in a book. 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, "Learning Planet."  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 alphabet book and draw pictures for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.)

Scenario Mission Pretend that you have to teach a foreign child the english language.  The best way to start teaching the child is to show and explain the alphabet to them, but it could be helpful to put a picture and word with each letter to better explain the concept.  Each letter should be covered for the child to fully understand. Mission Steps 1.  Go to the website and look at each letter with its word and picture. 2.  Write the letter, word and picture for each letter of the alphabet on a separate sheet of paper. 3.  Make these papers into an alphabet book by stapling or binding it together with string. 4.  Practice teaching someone (ex. classmate, parent, teacher,friend) so you would be able to fully explain the concept of letters and the alphabet correctly to a foreign child.

Step Three
Closure:
Have students discuss their mission project of their alphabet books and information they found on the Internet about the alphabet.  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 alphabet.  Explain to students that you are going to put their alphabet books 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 for Step Three:
5 minutes
 

Assessment:
A. 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.
 

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.")  Describe your student and his or her needs.
The "special student," in my class likes to get up out of their seat and walk around the classroom sometimes.  They also like to talk out loud without first raising their hand.  They are told many times not to act up or they will have to go to the corner, but they still act out after they are warned in many cases.  This student is also very active and likes to hop and jump around.

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.chadd.org/

3. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student?  I would just make sure this student knew exactly what to do when they got on the computer.  I would go over instructions clearly just for this student.

Reflections: (For Electronic Portfolio under Standard #1 Knowledge of Subject Matter)
1. a. The TopicQuest was helpful for review of the alphabet for each student.  They all got to see pictures of each letter of the alphabet and this broadened their vocabulary.  The making of the book by drawing pictures and writing each letter of the alphabet was very useful by increasing each students' knowledge.  

    b. My TopicQuest had several websites with many different ways of looking at the alphabet.  Some websites were done with animals, another was done with things you see on a farm, and another was a website that was like a dictionary.  It listed many objects with pictures of each letter from the alphabet.  It also gave a short description of each object listed.

    c. The students were engaged in learning more about the alphabet by answering questions throughout my presentation of all the websites available for them to look at.  They responded well to the questions I asked.

  2. Each of my students were able to use the computer with my help.  I let them work the mouse and I told them what website to go to.  This made it a lot easier for them because that gave them guidance that made the lessson run smoothly.  Each student had a satisfactory level for using the computer.
        Student One:  My first student was quiet but she was able to do the work I had set up for them to do. 
        Student Two:  My second student was very active during my presentation but when he had a turn to use the computer he
                              did a very good job. 
 

3. I would try to only teach one student at a time because one of the students I taught is a special student that needs lots of attention.  He was a bit of a distraction for the other two students participating in the lesson and that is why it would be better to teach each student separately.
 
 

(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) My first student drew a picture of a pumpkin for the letter P. He did a very good job on his drawing. He also wrote of the word pumpkin. He asked me to write it and he then looked at my example and wrote out the word.	(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) My second student drew a picture of an octopus for the letter O.  She did a very good job by using her imagination to draw the picture. I thought it was neat because she actually used the letter O for the body of the octopus.