TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
The transportation reporter for The Travel Channel and transportation

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: Pre-Kindergaten
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. Magazine
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: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles   &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~jldurham/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 transportation that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "What is transportation?"  "Can you tell me your favorite way to travel?"   Today we are going to learn about transportation by visiting web sites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about dinosaurs. (Give explanation of importance of lesson to students' lives today or in the future.)  I have made a special transportation 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 web sites about transportation, you will pretend to be reporters for children about where are the best places to take a vacation and what kinds of transportation are best. You will also give advice to parents on how to keep their children safe while traveling.

Check for understanding
Have students explore and discuss the information in each of 3 or 4 pre-selected web sites.  Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited web sites.  (Save "Travel Channel" and "Yahoo" web site to use in Mission Project.)  List three or more questions.
1. How many ways are there to travel?
2. How many places can we drive a car to?
3. If you could fly anywhere, where would you go?

Practice and feedback related to the PLC
Read mission project to students.  Explain to student that they are going to be reporters for The Travel Channel.  Discuss reporters 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 web site for information for mission project, "Travel Channel" and "Yahoo."  Discuss the information in the linked web site 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 Project     Go Get the News You have just received the top reporters job at the Travel Channel. The Travel Channel has all kinds of cool destinations and places to go and see. Your job is to find the best places for kids to visit and the easiest modes of transportation to get there.  Write an article and talk about what you would do on the trip. Draw an illustration of the way that you would get there and what you would do once you got there.. Mission Steps 1. Go to the Travel Channel and decide what kind of vacation is best for a             family to take. You can also use travel magazines. 2. Decide where you are at and where your destination is by using Yahoo to get     directions. 3. Discuss what you should do once you get there and what sights you should         see. 4. Draw a picture of the place and transportation that you used to get there.

Step Three
Closure:
Have students discuss their mission project of their articles, pictures and information they found on the Internet about transportation.  Tell students that your topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the web site at school or home to learn more about transportation.  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 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 student is delayed in his thinking. When asked a question he responds with the same question you asked him.

2. List the specific URL address of one Internet resource web site, 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. Suggested Classroom Accommodations for Specific Behaviors

3. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student?  I would have to do this lesson one on one. He has a hard time focusing when other stuff is going on around him.

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.
        I think that it made the student's feel grown up to control the mouse and go where they wanted to go. They learned different forms of transportation. Student one           was successful at telling me different ways to travel. Student two had to be prompted to give responses and often didn't seem to understand the questions.

    b. Describe and give examples of how your TopicQuest lesson illustrated your understanding of content and tools of inquiry.
         Because of  my understanding of the content I was able to make a web page to teach other children. I also left it open for the students to feel in a lot of the                  blanks and draw there own conclusions with my guidance 

    c. Describe and give examples of how students were engaged in learning and responded during your lesson.
        They were very anxious to use the computer and took turns with the mouse. They did seem pre-occupied at times when I was talking or explaining something.         It is difficult to find web pages that are made for their age group and can keep their attention. Both student one and two enjoyed playing games and picking a             cool family vacation for their mission.

  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: Student is able to use the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission project. Student one                                 was anxious to click, but had mastered the skill by the end of the lesson.
        Student Two: Satisfactory: Student is able to use the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission project. Student two                                  had trouble clicking on specific objects and almost had the skill mastered by the end of the lesson.
 

3. Describe what you would do differently and why if you taught this lesson again.
    I would allow more time to let the students explore the web site. I would allow them more time to draw and I would take more time for closure. I might also find a     book on the Topic.
 

Student One drew a picture of some of the things that she would do at Universal Studios. She drew pictures of roller coasters and a car, the mode of transportation that she would use to get there. She also drew a picture of 'The Cat in the Hat' and a dinosaur from 'Jurassic Park.' These are two rides at the amusement park.	(Three or more sentences of students' descriptions & comments) This is a picture of the ocean. Student Two decided that is where he wanted to go. The blue is the ocean and the black are birds. He said that he would fly there in an airplane, but he didn't draw one. I got the student two to use the computer to make his picture because the computer seemed to keep his attention.