TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson:
Thanksgiving Fun!

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: Thanksgiving Fun!   &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~hkcrews/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 Thanksgiving that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "Do you have a big meal with turkey, dressing, and yummy deserts on Thanksgiving?"  "Can you tell me something that you know about Thanksgiving?"   Today we are going to learn about Thanksgiving by visiting websites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about Thanksgiving. This is important for us to learn because Thanksgiving is an important part of the history in the USA, and we are going to learn more about our 5 senses through learning about Thanksgiving!  I have made a special Thanksgiving  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 Thanksgiving, then you will pretend to be at the very first Thanksgiving and draw a picture telling some interesting things about Thanksgiving. 

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 "Thanksgiving Dinner" website to use in Mission Project.)  List three or more questions.
1. What do you eat for Thanksgiving dinner?
2. What do you think the pilgrims ate for Thanksgiving?
3. How could you use your 5 senses to enjoy Thanksgiving?

Practice and feedback related to the PLC
Read mission project to students.  Explain to student that they are going to be pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving meal!  Discuss Thanksgiving and ask them questions about what they would eat. 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, "Thanksgiving Dinner."  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 pictures of their Thanksgiving meal for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.)

Step Three
Closure:
Have students discuss their mission project of their pictures and information they found on the Internet about Thanksgiving.  Tell students that your topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or home to learn more about Thanksgiving.  Explain to students that you are going to put their 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 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. My special student has a hard time concentrating and moves around a lot. It would be very hard to do this lesson unless I could sit with her and do it one on one. She is very disruptive and functions on the level of a two year old child. It's almost like having two children in your room in one child's body.

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:  Special Needs Student or you can do a search. 

3. I would have to work with the student one on one and make sure there were no other children around to distract her. I would definitely have to help her use the mouse and remind her more than once what she is supposed to draw. 

Reflections: (For Electronic Portfolio under Standard #1 Knowledge of Subject Matter)
1. a. All students celebrate Thanksgiving in some way and this lesson built upon what they already knew. I think I was able to bring them new understanding of the holiday and we also discussed their 5 senses and allowed them to explore how they used those in their Thanksgiving experience. 

    b. I was very comfortable talking about the subject because I studied it a lot through making this page. I was able to take them to actual sites with informative and fun pictures so they could beter understand the topic we were discussing. I was able to give good examples and also show them the examples.

    c. They were fascinated with the internet and got really excited that they were able to manuever their way through my web pages. The whole time they were saying "Ms. Crews, this is so cool." Or, "I've never been to sites like this." They were very excited about the whole thing.

  2. I think that overall they did fine. A few of them had to ask me a lot of questions about what they were expected to do and then they had to start over because they didn't do what I wanted. But after they got the hang of it all of the pictures turned out nicely.
    A. Technology Integration:
        Student One:
        Student Two:
 

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