Look In the Sky... Things that Fly! TopicQuest
Technology Integrated Lesson
Name: Kawana J. Moffett
School: Small Group
Grade Level: Pre-K and First

Annotation
The "Look in the sky, Things that Fly!" lesson could be used with children in kindergarten through third grade.  This lesson is designed for kindergarten level students.  The students will begin with a hands-on technology research activity.  The students will research the topic of the different things that can be seen flying in the sky through connecting Internet links on the topicquest page that I developed for my field class students.  This is a cross-curricular lesson integrating science, language arts, technology, and art.

Primary Learning Outcome:
With teacher guidance students will be able to research the Internet and use the computer to explore and find information to complete the scenario activity.   Students will be able to describe talk about the different things that can be seen flying in the sky with the research information and the guidance of the teacher.
 

Assessed QCC:
Grade: K
Subject Area: Technology Integration
Strand: Research
10 Topic: Research
Standard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.

Grade: K
Subject Area: Language Arts
Strand: Written Communication
41 Topic: Reference/Study
Standard: Explores the uses of the media center, picture books, audiovisual resources, and available technology for reading and writing.
 

Total Duration:
45 minutes

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:
1. Computer with Internet connection

Procedures:

Step One
Introduction: (Connecting Old Knowledge to New Knowledge)
Have a small group of students go to a computer.  Introduce students to topic of the differnt things that can be seen flying in the sky by asking them: "Have you ever went outside, looked up in the sky, and saw some sort of flying object go by?"  "Do you know how it got up there?"  Today we are going to learn about some of the different things that can be see flying in the sky by visiting websites on the Internet and do a fun activity about airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, and kites.  I have made a special "Things that Fly" page for your class.  (During discussion have students turn around away from the computer to interact.)

Estimated Time:
5 minutes

Lesson Materials to be Attached:
Attached is a copy of my topicquest website with scenario activity used in lesson.

Web Links:
TopicQuest Page at:  http://www.valdosta.edu/~kjmoffet/topic.html
Balloon Zone at:  http://www.balloonzone.com

Step Two
Teaching:
Have students sit at the computer where they can control the mouse and computer.  Introduce topicquest page to students and visit several pre-selected websites.  Have students explore and discuss the information in each of the visited website.  Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited websites.  (Will save "Balloon Zone" website to use in Step Four.)

Estimated time:
15 minutes

Step Three
Guided Practice:
Read scenario mission to students.  Explain to student that they are going to go outside and look up at the sky and draw a picture of what they may see. Tell the students that the information that they will need to complete their mission project is listed and connected in the scenario mission.  Visit website for information for mission project, "Balloon Zone."  Discuss the web pages with the students to emphasize interesting and important information students will need to complete mission project.
 
 

Scenario Mission

 Let's pretend that we are outside
 lying in the grass, and looking up at
 the sky. What are some of the things
 that you could  possibly see flying
 by?  Draw a picture of the things that
 you would probably see and give a
 brief description about your picture.
 To help you get started, try going to 
 BalloonZone, or thinking about other
 sites that we have visited.  You can
 also go outside, look at the sky, and
 draw some things that you may see
 flying by.  Let your imagination fly
 high as you create your picture!!!!
 


Mission Steps

1. Pretend you are outside looking up in the sky. 

2. Draw a picture of what you would see in the
     sky. 

3. Give a brief description of your picture and
     tell us what you saw. 
 

Estimated Time:
10 minutes

Step Four
Independent Practice:
Students will write (or dictate to teacher) information to be included in the pictures for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.

Estimated Time:
10 minutes

Step Five
Closure:
Have students discuss their pictures and what they have learned about the different things that can be see flying in the sky.  Tell students that your topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or home any time.  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:
5 minutes
 

Assessment:
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.

Language Arts K-41
Student will be assessed for exploring the uses of technology for information in their discussion and writing activity.
Satisfactory: Student is able to write or dictate information for mission project that was obtained while exploring the Internet.
Unsatisfactory: Student is not able to write or dictate information for mission project while exploring the Internet.
 

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.")  During  observations at the Indian Creek Elementary School, I observed a student that
was slightly hearing impaired.  This student had difficulty hearing and understanding directions.

2. List the 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.glc.k12.ga.us/trc/search.asp?mode=result&intpathid=209&strKeyword=hearing+impairment

3. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student?  I will try
to accommodate this student by making sure I am standing near him/her when giving directions or
making comments.  I will stand so that student can read my lips if needed.
 


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. My students learned a great deal about the different things that can be seen flying in the sky. My students had not even heard of some of the things that we discussed in the lesson, so this was a really good learning experience for them. They were able they got in the air. Since this activity, my students are able to talk in great detail about some of the different objects that can be seen flying through the air.

    b. Describe and give examples of how your TopicQuest lesson illustrated your understanding of content and tools of inquiry.I used the different internet sites as a source of information, to help me as the teacher, to speak intelligently to my students about the different objects that can be seen flying in the sky. I learned a great deal about how things fly and I also learned a great deal about the hot air
balloons and blimps.

    c. Describe and give examples of how students were engaged in learning and responded during your lesson.They were very excited to see the different things that fly in the sky, and they were very interested in learning about what makes them fly. They were especially interested in the helicopters, blimps, and hot air balloons.

  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 Two:Satisfactory: Student is able to use the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission project

    b. Language Arts:
        Student One:Satisfactory: Student is able to write or dictate information for mission   project that was obtained while exploring the Internet.
        Student Two:Satisfactory: Student is able to write or dictate information for mission   project that was obtained while exploring the Internet.
 

3. Describe what you would do differently and why if you taught this lesson again. If I were to do this lesson again, I would allow the students more time to search the web and look at the different sites. I was trying so very hard to stay on schedule, that I may have rushed them as they viewed the different sites. Other than that, I enjoyed teaching the lesson, and I believe the students enjoyed learning about the different things that can be seen flying in the sky.
 


Elementary Students' TopicQuest Projects


 
 
A first grader has drawn a  picture of several different  objects that can be seen flying in the sky. She included in her picture a space shuttle, a kite, a blimp, and an airplane.  She has also drawn a picture of herself standing and looking at them all fly by. A Pre-K student has drawn a picture of a space shuttle.  He has also drawn a picture of himself and his sister in the grass, while watching a space shuttle fall out of the sky.