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TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson: A Journey Through Outer Space

Primary Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
The primary learning outcomes to be achieved with this lesson include:
A. With teacher guidance student will be able to use the computer to research topic information on the Internet. (QCC- Technology Integration- Research- 3-13, 5-13)
B. With teacher guidance student will be able to listen to information to gain knowledge.  (GPS- English/Language Arts- Comprehension- ELA3R3, ELA5R1)
 

Assessed Standards
Georgia QCC
A. Grade: 3, 5
Subject Area: Technology Integration
Strand: Research
13 Topic: Research
Standard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.

Georgia Performance Standard (GPS)
B. English/Language Arts Performance Standard
Grade: 3, 5
Comprehension
ELA3R3, ELA5R1:  The student gains meaning from orally presented text. 
a. The student listens to and reads a variety of literary and informational texts and materials to gain knowledge and for pleasure.

Materials and Equipment:
1. Have example of your mission project to show students
2. Paper for drawing
3. Crayons
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: A Journey Through the Solar System   &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~jabenson/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 planets.  List 2 or more questions that introduce students to your TopicQuest that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them:
1. "Have you ever studied or read a book about the planets?" 
2. "Can you tell me something that you know about the planets?"  
Today we are going to learn about planets by visiting websites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity.  I have made a special Web page for you.  (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 planets then you will choose one planet you would like to live on, and write a letter to NASA explaining why people should live on your planet.

Check for understanding
Have students explore and discuss the information in each of the 3 pre-selected websites.  Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited websites.   List three or more questions.
1.  Why was your weight the smallest on Pluto?  What planet has the longest year?
2.  Which planet has the Great Red Spot?
3.  Do all of the planets have moons?

Practice and feedback related to the PLO
Read mission project to students.  Explain to students that they are going to travel into outer space and find out information about the planets, and choose a planet that you would like to live on.  Write a letter to NASA explaining why people should live on your planet..   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.  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.]

Step Three
Closure:
Have students discuss their mission project and information they found on the Internet.  Tell students that your TopicQuest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or home.  Explain to students that you are going to put their pictures and information 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 
Student will be assessed through observation while using the computer with teacher guidance to do research on the Internet for topic information.

Assessment Rubric

B. English/Language Arts
Student will be assessed through observation and oral discussion to evaluate if student with teacher guidance is able to listen to information to gain knowledge.

Assessment Rubric

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.") 
One of the students that I observed had a hearing impairment.  She had a hearing aid, but she still had difficulties hearing.

2. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student? 
To help this student accomplish my lesson, I would read the sentences on the computer to the student and point to important words that she needs to know.  If there is sound on the website, I will provide the student with headphones that they can use to listen to the sounds.

Comments & Reflections: For Electronic Portfolio Principle #1 Content and Curriculum: Teachers demonstrate a strong content knowledge of content area(s). Describe how your TopicQuest project is evidence that shows how you understand concepts of knowledge.  Also tell how you used the tools of inquiry to develop and implement your TopicQuest for your elementary students in your field classroom

1. Describe how you developed the mini-research TopicQuest lesson for your students.  Include your process of researching and selecting web sites for your pre-k/elementary students.
   
    I developed the mini-research Topic Quest lesson by searching the Internet for websites that related to my topic.  After searching through many websites, I evaluated each one to determine which websites would be the best for my lesson.  I chose the websites that were valid, age appropriate, interesting, and fun for the students.

2. Comment on your teaching of how your TopicQuest lesson created learning experiences and activities that implemented the use of a variety of resources and technologies. 
   
    The students had access to a variety of resources through the different websites that they researched.  They also used technology in the TopicQuest because the students used the computer to research and complete their mission.  I guided them and pointed out important topics while the students controlled the computer.

4. Examine and describe your teaching of this TopicQuest lesson.

    At the beginning of the lesson, I introduced the topic and asked the students questions about what they already knew about the solar system.  Both students had little knowledge about the planets and the solar system, but  I was still able to use their previous knowledge to connect new information about the planets by letting them visit a few websites that I thought would benefit them.  After the students visited these websites, they read and completed their mission by using the websites that I provided.  After they completed their mission, I had each student tell me what planet they chose and why they chose this planet to live on.  While the students were working,  I was able to observe and evaluate them on their computer abilities and teacher interactions throughout the lesson.

5. Give at least one suggestion that would lead to improving your teaching practices and student achievement.
   
    Because each student was in different grades, the level of learning for each student was also different.  I found that when I was teaching both of these students at the same time, the 5th grade student was more advanced and quicker to catch on to certain concepts than the 3rd grader.  If I could teach this lesson again, I would teach each student one at a time so I could gear the lesson at each student's level in order to improve their understanding.

This is a picture drawn by Caleb, a fifth grader.  The planet he chose to live on was Mars.  He said that he would like to live on Mars because it had shown signs of life at one time.  He also liked Mars because it had two moons to look at.  Another reason why he chose Mars was because it is known as the Red Planet and red is his favorite color.  The black spots he drew were the craters that can be found on Mars.

This is a picture drawn by Rachel, a third grader.  The planet she chose to live on was Pluto.  She said that she would like to live on Pluto because it is the smallest planet.  On Pluto she will only weigh  8 pounds.  She liked Pluto because she will seem really little because she didn't weigh as much as she would on Earth.