TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson:
Food and Why it is Important

Primary Learning Outcome (PLC):
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. 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:

• 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: I'm Hungry &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~erfulton/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  food that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "Have you ever studied or read a book about different types of food?"  "Can you tell me something that you know about food?"   Today we are going to learn about food by visiting websites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about food. (Give explanation of importance of lesson to students' lives today or in the future.)  I have made a special food 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 foods then you will pretend to be a parent that is preparing a meal for their family and draw a picture of the meal you will prepare. 

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 "I'm Hungry" website to use in Mission Project.)  List three or more questions.
1. What kinds of food are healthy breakfast food?
2. What food groups suggest 2-3 servings a day?
3. What foods go in the meat group?

Practice and feedback related to the PLC
Read mission project to students.  Explain to student that they are going to be parents for their class.  Discuss the different food groups with students and show them what foods go in what groups with examples from activity. 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, "I'm Hungry."  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 students' favorite meal and a drawing  for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when need.

Scenario Mission Pretend that you are a parent. You are going to the grocery store to buy food for the week. You need to think about all the food groups you have just learned about. You need food from all the food groups to make a healthy meal for your family. Think about the foods that you would have for dinner. Remember NO junk food. It is important that you chose your food carefully. Think about the things you learned from the wed-sites above. If you need help visit Pork4Kids Food Fun. Mission Steps 1. Visit the web-site Pork4Kids Food Fun. 2. Think about the healthy foods your family might enjoy. 3. Decide what is your favorite meal for dinner. 4. Draw a picture of your favorite meal. 5.  Tell why it is your favorite meal. Lesson Plan for Teacher

Step Three
Closure:
Have students discuss their mission project of their favorite dinner and drawing and information they found on the Internet about food.  Tell students that your topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or at home to learn more about food.  Explain to students that you are going to put their favorite dinner and drawing 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.")  This particular student has a very short attention span. Class activities do not seem to interest her. She starts out doing the assignments with the rest of the class but after about 5 minutes into the assignment she loses interest and finds something else to do. She seems to work better when there is someone giving her one on one attention or pushing her to complete the assignments.

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.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/add_adhd/ericE569.html

3. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student? I would ask her questions while visiting the links to make sure that I had her undivided attention. I would also watch her as she draws her picture to give her the one on one attention that she seems to need. While she is drawing her pictures I would ask her questions about her drawing.

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 computer provided a new and interesting tool for the students to use. They loved the colorful web-sites and the games provided. Even they could not read the information they learned a lot. They seemed to enjoy working on the computer more than drawing and writing on the paper. The web-sites provided a lot of information for the subject matter for my lesson. The students learned a lot and had fun doing it.

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

The computer is a good resource when developing a lesson for students. I went to each web site and read the content to make sure it was age appropriate, to see whether it's information was accurate and to make sure it tied into the lesson.  It provides new and creative ideas, activities and materials for the students to learn. The web-sites gave me a foundation of understanding for y topic lesson. I learned the information I needed to teach by visiting the various sites on the web. 

    c. Describe and give examples of how students were engaged in learning and responded during your lesson.
Student seemed to enjoy exploring the web-sites and playing  the games on the web-site. He said," I like this, it is fun!"  He asked questions when I mentioned a food he never heard before. The second students asked questons and made comments about what she already knew. She told me that vegetables and fruits and meat are good for you. She seemed to enjoy clicking on the different web-site and playing the game. I think she like the matching food game at the end of the lesson because she asked could she did it again.

  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, he was able to understand and illustrute by drawing what he learned from the lesson. He was able to use the mouse and key board to look up information and play games on the web-sites provided during the lesson.
        Student Two: Satisfactory, she was able to understand, ask questions, comment and illustrate what she learned from the lesson. She was able to use the mouse to look up information and play games on the web-sites provided during the lesson.
 

3. Describe what you would do differently and why if you taught this lesson again.

I would have provided another hands on activity for the students to do. For example, I would have the students sort plastic food by food groups using a food pyramid to help reinforce what they learned while exploring the different sites in addition to drawings they did. This would be another way for me to assess what the students have learned.
 

(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) A Pre-K student drew a picture of his favorite meal for dinner. His picture included pizza, steak, chicken, broccoli, and a carrot. He explained that these are all the foods he likes to suggest to his mom when she asks what he wants for dinner.

(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) This picture was drawn by a Pre-K student.  She said that she wanted to pick food from each food group to make her favorite meal for dinner.  Her meal included bread, rice, chicken, peas, apples, and grapes. She named her favorite foods from each group. She did not include a food from the dairy group because she does not like milk and her parents always makes her drink it .