TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson:
Let's Make a Zoo

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. Newspaper
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: Off to the Zoo We Go!   &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~ctisby/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 zoo animals.  List 2 or more questions that introduce students to topic of dinosaurs that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "Have you ever visited the zoo or seen zoo animals on television?"  "Can you tell me something that you know about zoo animals?"   Today we are going to learn about animals by visiting websites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about zoo animals.  I have made a special zoo animal page for your class.  (During discussion have students turn around away from the computer to interact.)  It's important that we learn to recognize animals so that we may categorize them in specific groups.

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 zoo animals you will pretend to be a reporter and recruiter for your hometown.  You will then draw a picture and list information about animals that you would bring to your hometown zoo. 

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 "The animal group" website to use in Mission Project.)  List three or more questions.
1.  What are some big animals that live at the zoo?
2.  Are all animals mammals? why or why not?
3.  Do you know how many groups of animals there are in the world?

Practice and feedback related to the PLO
Read mission project to students.  Explain to students that they are going to be reporters and recruiters for their hometown.  .  Discuss reporters and recruiters with students and show them the newspaper with examples of articles written by reporters. 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, "The animal website."  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 articles and draw pictures for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.]

Mission You are a reporter and recruiter for your hometown newspaper.  Your local town is starting its own zoo and they need your help to find one animal from each category of the vertebrate group.  You must go to a zoo and bring back the five animals of your choice. The town wants you to tell about the five animals you have chosen.  You must give their size and their natural habitation.  You should also give one reason why you chose the animal. In addition, you will need to draw a picture about any animal that you ran across at the zoo.  You may want to pick out the animal the next time around if your town needs you to recruit more animals. The TopicQuest Page has some links you might want to stop at in your search for your animals.  The animal group web site is a good place to start for your search. Mission Steps 1.  Explore with your teacher  the animal group web site and others to draw pictures and write notes for your records and files. 2.  Think about the animals that you will be bringing back to your hometown, and think about animals you think your town will enjoy at their hometown zoo. 3.  Write or describe to your teacher 1 specific thing you learned about the animal you are choosing for the zoo in your hometown.  4.   Draw a picture of the animal that is your favorite and one more of the animal that you will chose for the hometown zoo. 5.  Give your information and drawings to your teacher to scan and publish on the Internet.

Step Three
Closure:
Have students discuss their mission project of their articles, pictures and information they found on the Internet about zoo animals.  Tell students that your topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or home to learn more about zoo animals.  Explain to students that you are going to put their articles and pictures 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 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.")  Describe your student and his or her needs.  The special student that I will be working with has a hearing impairment on the left side of her ear.  She will need to be able to hear the teacher clearly out the left ear.

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:  Voice for the hearing impaired children or you can do a search. List the specific URL information for your special student.  Be sure it links.

3. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student?  The Special Student will be placed close to the teacher where he/she sees the teacher mouth.  Teacher will restrict his/her mobility and teacher will place student in an area, which minimizes interfering noises where student with hearing problems can work.  

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.

This TopicQuest was created so that children can learn about different types of animals:  big, small, fast, mammals, birds, etc.  They used the Internet to hear the different kinds of noises they make and to hear fun facts about the animals at the zoo.

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

My TopicQuest illustrated contents related to the topic.  I search for websites that was easy to understand and simple in graphics for the students to view.  They also experienced websites that had the different sounds that animals make at the zoo, which made the "visit" to the zoo more realistic.

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

The Students browsed the different sites and explored the pages about zoo animals.  They completed their mission and answered questions related to the TopicQuest Page.  They asked questions and most of all they had fun!

  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, the student was able to browse the site with my help and find answers to            the mission.                           
        Student Two:    Satisfactory, the student was able to browse the site and find answers to help them with the mission.
 

3. Describe what you would do differently and why if you taught this lesson again.   I would probably have more time in the lesson plan.
 
 

(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) A kindergartner drew a picture of an elephant and turtle.  He said that the elephant has a pink nose and blue eyes, and the turtle has a green head and brown shell.  He drew the animals walking together at the zoo.	(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) This is a picture by a kindergartner.  She said that she drew a giraffe and elephant.  She said that her giraffee has a long neck with brown and black dots.  She said that her elephant is black and asleep along side the giraffee at the zoo.