Topic Lesson Plan

Primary Learning Outcome (PLC):
The primary learning outcome 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. Model of Mouth (teeth) and Toothbrush
5. Modification of a lesson developed by Dr. Diane L. Judd

Technology Connection:
Technologies that will be used in this lesson include:

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 dental hygiene that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "Do you know why good dental hygiene is so important?" "Can you tell me ways in which you can keep your smile healthy and bright?" Today we are going to learn about practicing good dental hygiene by visiting web sites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about your teeth. This lesson will discuss the importance of caring for your teeth. I have made a special dental hygiene page for your class. (During discussion have students turn around away from the computer to interact.)

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 dental hygiene then you will pretend to have just pulled your tooth. The Tooth Fairy likes your tooth so much that she needs your help in persuading other children to care for their teeth. You will help the tooth fairy teach other children around the world how to properly care for their teeth.

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 "Preventing Cavities" web site to use in Mission Project.) List three or more questions.
1. What is a cavity?
2. What causes cavities?
3. How can cavities be prevented?

Practice and feedback related to the PLC
Read mission project to students. Explain to student that they are going to be Tooth Fairy Helpers. Discuss ways to care for teeth and prevent cavities. 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, "Preventing Cavities." 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 note to the Tooth Fairy and draw pictures for the mission project. While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.)

Scenario Mission

Let's pretend that you just pulled your tooth. You're excited because tonight the tooth is going under your pillow for the Tooth Fairy to collect. She collects hundreds of teeth every night. Some teeth are strong and white. Other teeth are full of cavities and plaque. The Tooth Fairy comes to get your tooth and finds a beautiful, shiny, healthy tooth. The Tooth Fairy needs your help badly. She leaves a note asking you to help her tell other children how to take care of their teeth just like you do. She asks you to write a poem describing the things you do to keep your teeth healthy. At the bottom of the note, the Tooth Fairy requests a picture of the tooth you pulled as an example to show other children with not so healthy teeth. Make a list of good oral hygiene habits and then draw a picture of your beautiful tooth.

Mission Steps

1. With teacher guidance, visit the two sites on
    preventing cavities and the poem about the Tooth
    Fairy.

2. Write a short note about your good dental hygiene
     habits and then draw a picture of your healthy tooth.

3. Discuss with teacher and group the importance of good
     oral hygiene and what you would tell other children
     about taking care of their teeth.

4. Turn in your note and picture to the teacher for
     publication on the internet.

Lesson Plan Information for Teachers

Step Three
Closure:
Have students discuss their mission project of their notes, pictures and information they found on the Internet about dental hygiene and preventing cavities. 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 dental hygiene. 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.)

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.") Describe your student and his or her needs.
The "special needs" student in my class is legally blind. Because of the condition, he/she must wear very powerful corrective lenses (glasses). Although legally blind, the "special needs" student functions on a fairly normal level.

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: Accommodations for Students With Visual Impairments or you can do a search. List the specific URL information for your special student. Be sure it links.

3. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student? Explain what you would add to this lesson to accommodate your special student.
1. Make sure the student was sitting in very close proximity to me while reading. This would allow the student to be able to see and hear more clearly. 2. When using technology resources, I would have available software for visually impaired individuals (i.e. screen magnification, screen readers, and other voice output tools). 3. Verbally describe what is going on during the lesson (using very specific/detailed description).

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 TopicQuest lesson on Dental Hygiene allowed the student to take an up close and personal look at a subject that was very unfamiliar. Before I taught the lesson I asked if the student was familiar with how to properly care for teeth and gums. I was informed that that was a subject the student knew little about. This lesson gave me the perfect opportunity to present a topic of importance to a student in a fun, exciting, and relaxed setting. The activities and educational games completed in the TopicQuest lesson were especially attention catching and tons of learning fun. I made sure that all of the web sites chosen were age appropriate, eye-catching, and contained some type of learning activity. Overall, the student learned quite a bit about dental hygiene because everyday after the lesson the student made sure I knew that they were taking care of their teeth and gave me feedback on what was learned.

b. Describe and give examples of how your TopicQuest lesson illustrated your understanding of content and tools of inquiry.
My TopicQuest was based on a subject that I am very passionate about. Un composing the web page and lesson plan, I wanted to make sure that the pictures, questions and web sites grabbed the student's attention. The web sites chosen gave adequate and precise answers to the questions asked in my lesson. Also, the questions asked sparked the interest of the student and gave an unquenchable spark of interest that made the student want to explore the web sites to find the answers.

c. Describe and give examples of how students were engaged in learning and responded during your lesson.
The student answered the critical thinking questions as best as possible. The information concerning the lesson took a while to sink in, but once the information became concrete to the student, the information stuck like glue. Everyday, the student said something about the lesson. For example, my last day of practicum, the student turned to me and said, "Ms. Melton, see my teeth. Remember when we learned about taking care of my teeth? Well, I brushed them this morning." This was evidence enough that my lesson got through to the student. The student was engaged during the lesson and showed this by using the model of a mouth that I provided to demonstrate the correct way to brush and floss teeth. Also, each web site we visited with an activity was fully completed.

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--The student I chose to participate in the TopicQuest lesson was not very familiar with using computers. I was surprised at how quickly he/she caught on to using the mouse, double-clicking, and navigating through the internet sites. The student was willing to learn and highly cooperative.
Student was able to glean from the sites a copious amount of information and use it in order to complete the mission steps. The drawing and note dictated by my student was right on target.

3. Describe what you would do differently and why if you taught this lesson again.
If I were to teach this lesson again, I would use the word dental in place of the word oral in the phrase dental hygiene. I think dental is a more appropriate term and sounds more professional. I did not come to this conclusion until after I taught the lesson. I also changed the wording in my lesson plan to rectify the situation. Also, I would use Netscape 7.1 instead of another version to display the page that I made for my TopicQuest lesson. Because of the differing versions, my page was all distorted. It looked nothing like the page I composed. The reason I had to use another version of Netscape is because I was utilizing the computers of a public school and was not able to download other programs without permission and/or the aid of the person in charge of the technology program at the school.