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TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson: Wild About Animals

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- 4,13)
B. With teacher guidance student will be able to listen to information to gain knowledge.  (GPS- English/Language Arts- Comprehension- ELA4R1)
 

Assessed Standards
Georgia QCC
A. Grade: 4
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: 4
Comprehension
ELA4R1:  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. Pencil & paper for students to write down facts
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: Wild About Animals   &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~ldrewis/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 animals.  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 animals?"
2. "Can you tell me something that you know about animals?"
Today we are going to learn about animals 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 animals then you will pretend to be a zoo keeper at a local zoo where you will be interviewed by a newspaper journalist.  You will write down interesting facts about six animals and draw a picture of the animals.

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.  What is your favorite animal and what is unique about this animal?
2.  Why is the bald eagle becoming extinct?
3.  What is the elephant's trunk used for?

Practice and feedback related to the PLO
Read mission project to students.  Explain to students that they are going to interviewed by a newspaper journalist on interesting facts about animals.   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 article and draw a picture for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.]

Mission Project   Imagine that you work at a local zoo as a zoo keeper.  The local newspaper, Wild About Animals Times, wants to interview you about some of the animals in the zoo.  The newspaper journalist asks you to write down two interesting facts about six animals in the zoo.  Also, tell which one of the six animals is your favorite and what interests you about this animal.  You need to draw a picture of the animals for the newspaper to go above the story.  You need to use MS Paint to draw your picture.  The above links will help you find some interesting information about each animal. Have A Good Time! Mission Steps 1. First, look at each link above to review the information given about each animal. 2. Then, write down two interesting facts about each of the six animals. 3. Next, tell which one of the six animals is your favorite and what interests you about this animal. 4. After you have finished writing, draw a picture of the six animals using MS Paint. 5. When you are finished, give your paper and drawing to your teacher to scan and publish on the Internet.

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.")  A special student in the class I observed had an attention deficit disorder.  The student also had problems reading and understanding certain words.  The student needs assessments that capture his attention.

2. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student?  I would add more animated graphics to keep the students attention.  Also I would add sound to my webpage so the student could have each page read to him, which will be very effective in keeping the students attention.

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.
    First I choose the grade level of the students I wanted to teach.  I  researched the QCC Standards for fourth grade students to see what knowlege should be obtained after a lesson has been prepared and taught.  Then I searched the web to find educational websites that the students would benefits greatly from.  I evaluated each website to make sure it had the adequate information needed for the students to gain proper knowledge of the subject.

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 technology used to help teach the TopicQuest lesson was very effective.  The Internet kept the students attention and they also had fun learning.  It also helped the students gain knowledge of how to better use a computer for classwork and the Internet for research.  The students used the computer and mouse effectively with some guidance from the teacher.

4. Examine and describe your teaching of this TopicQuest lesson.
    I introduced the TopicQuest lesson by asking the students a few questions to test their previous knowledge about animals.  Then I took the students to the computer where I showed them how to access the TopicQuest lesson.  I let the two students take turns navigating through the educational websites and reading the information provided about each animal.  The students asked questions and we were able to answer those questions by using the information provided on the Internet.  The TopicQuest lesson was concluded with the completion of the mission project which the students and I really enjoyed working on.

5. Give at least one suggestion that would lead to improving your teaching practices and student achievement.  Teaching one student at a time and being able to apply knowledge on a one-on-one basis in order to help each student effectively learn the information provided.
 

A fourth grade student drew a picture of her favorite wild animal which is the tiger.   She wrote that the reason she likes tigers is because of their fur.  She drew her tiger in the woods near a tree with the bright sun shining down on him.  The student also wrote down two facts she learned about each of the six animals that she studied.	A fourth grade student drew a picture of her favorite wild animal which is the wolf.  She wrote that the reason she likes the wolf is because it has a great shape.  She drew her wolf in the woods during the fall with leaves falling off of the tree.  The student also wrote down two facts she learned about each of the six animals that she studied.

Lori's Home Page

ldrewis@valdosta.edu

TopicQuest Page