General Information
Name: Sarah Fowler
School/Mentor Teacher: Berrien Primary/ Mrs. O'Neal
Grade Level: K
Subject Areas: Technology Integration, English Language Arts & Fine Arts
Date Taught:
Total Duration of Lesson: About 45 minutes

Title of Lesson
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Primary Learning Outcomes (PLO)
The primary learning outcomes to be achieved with this lesson include:
A. Student will be able to listen to a literature story and gain information.
B. Student will be able to develop a drawing to illustrate his/her answer to a critical thinking question.

Georgia Performance Standards (GPS)
A. Grade K
English Language Arts
ELAKR5  The student gains meaning from orally presented text. The student
   a. Listens to and reads a variety of literary (e.g., short stories, poems) and informational texts and materials to gain knowledge and for pleasure.

Related QCC Standards
B. Grade: K
Fine Arts
Strand: Visual Arts
3 Topic: Artistic Skills and Knowledge: Creating, Performing, Producing
Standard: Uses a variety of art materials and techniques to model, construct, and compose original artworks.


 
Materials and Equipment
   1. Book: Carle, E. (1994). The very hungry caterpillar. New York: Penguin Young Readers Group.
   2. Computer with Internet connection
   3.  Poster with critical thinking questions
   4. Drawing paper
   5. Drawing materials (magic markers, crayons, paint, and/or colored pencils)
   6. Your product of activity to show as an example
   7. Pencil and paper (to make notes for lesson plan assessment and reflections)
   8. Modification of  lesson developed by Dr. Diane L. Judd
       URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~djudd/literaturelesson.html

Technology Connection
Technologies that will be used in this lesson include: computer with Internet connection to share Topic Mini-Research & Literature website and connecting topic link.  Copy of my Topic Mini-Research & Literature website included with this lesson plan. 
Website Title: Plants and Bugs mini-literature page and URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~srfowler/topic.html

Procedures
Step One: Introduction
I will have a small group of students go to a computer.  I will tell the students that today they are going to study  bugs. I will show the students my bugs website and read a special book to them about bugs.  I will explain to the students the book I am going to read is about a caterpillar, and how it becomes a beautiful butterfly. I will explain to students that it is incorrect that a caterpillar turns into a butterfly by the cocoon, but rather it goes into a chrysalis.  I will tell the students that after reading the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, they will write (or dictate to me) answers to questions on a poster.  Then they will draw a picture on paper (and on the poster if they have time) to illustrate their answers. I will explain to the students that I will put their pictures on the Internet. 

Introduction questions: (Introduce lesson topic & find out students' previous knowledge with three or more questions)
1. Have you ever read the book yet? 
2. Do you know anything about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly? 
3. Can you tell me something about the caterpillars?

Spark the students' interest by showing the students my Topic Mini-Research & Literature Web Page and my topic Paint picture.  I will share one web link about my topic, bugs, with the students.

Relate lesson to students' lives today and/or future: The Very Hungry Caterpillar book will tell us some interesting facts about the caterpillars and how they become a butterfly.  I will explain to students that learning about caterpillars will be useful information about if the students were to see a caterpillar around their house, or if they find a chrysalis. They will know what process the caterpillar is in.

I will have students contol the computer and go to my topic website.  I will show the students my Paint picture and one selected topic website linked on my Topic Mini-Research & Literature web page.  (Students will take turns and control the mouse and computer to view the topic page and connecting topic link.  Assist students, if needed, to scroll up and down the topic page.) 
 
Estimated Time:
About 10 minutes

Step Two: Teaching the Primary Learning Outcomes
I will read selected topic book, The very hungry caterpillar, by Eric Carle, to the students. 

I will use the picture walk, oral reading strategy, to introduce the book to students.  While reading the book to students, I will discuss the story with students and ask questions to check for their understanding of story. 

Check for understanding before going on: (List four or more questions about the literature story that you will ask students while reading the book.)
1. Which fruits went with each day in the story?
2. How long did the caterpillar eat before going into its chrysalis?
3. Did the caterpillar eat the whole fruit or just pieces of it?
4. What did the caterpillar turn into at the end?

Provide practice and feedback related to the primary learning outcomes:  Teacher will ask at least two critical thinking questions and take notes of students' answers for lesson assessment.
1. What do you think would be some healthy foods for you to eat if you were the caterpillar, and you were about to become the beautiful butterfly? 
2. Why do you think it is important for a caterpillar to eat before it goes into its chrysalis?

Guided Practice: I will assist students to write their answers to the critical thinking questions on the poster, or have students dictate answers and I will write them on the poster.

Independent Practice: Students will draw a picture to illstrate their answer to one of the critical thinking questions.  If there is time, students could illstrate their answers to the crtitical thinking questions on the poster.

Estimated Time:
About 25 minutes

Students will discuss some of the interesting facts about bugs that they found in the story or the website.   Students will also share and tell about their pictures.  

I will tell students that I am going to put their picture on the Internet and they will be able to go on the Internet and share their pictures with friends and family.  (If possible teacher should take brief notes during the lesson and concluding discussions for the lesson plan's assessment and reflections to be added later.)

Estimated Time:
About 10 minutes

Assessment the Primary Learning Outcomes

Evaluation of Students

Accommodation
Links for Accommodations for Special Students
1. Select one of your students that has special needs from the conceptual factor information of your practicum class.  Describe the student in your class with special needs in two or more sentences.. (Do not use the student's real name.  You could refer to the student as "the special student.") 

The special child has a very hard time focusing her attention. She's a sweet girl, but she cannot seem to stay on task. Her eyes constantly wonder.

2. Explain what you would add or change in this lesson plan to accommodate your special student? 

I would find a way to direct this lesson more towards a various location lesson. It would be very hands-on, so that her hands can be occupied, so hopefully her eyes will be focused as well.

Reflections: 
1.  Describe and give examples of how your Topic Literature lesson created learning experiences and activities that implemented a variety of instructional strategies.

Students were not only able to recognize the pattern of the days, they were able to see that the number of fruit was increasing by one. I also allowed students to write their answers to the critical thinking questions with only the assistance in spelling.
 
2. Describe and give examples of how your Topic Literature lesson encouraged students' development of critical thinking.

When students were asked to think of the answer to their critical questions, they thoroughly thought their answers through.

3. Describe what you would change or do differently if you taught this lesson again.  (Give specific examples)   



One student was a little disruptive during the lesson (asking to go to the bathroom, water, etc), I would have established a firmer disposition from the beginning.

Book Title & Author for Topic Literature Lesson	Book Title by Author
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Critical Thinking Questions from Topic Literature Lesson	1.  What do you think would be some healthy foods for you to eat if you were the caterpillar, and you were about to become the beautiful butterfly? 2. Why do you think it is important for a caterpillar to eat before it goes into its chrysalis?

1st Student's Answers & Comments to the Critical Thinking Questions	1.   The caterpillar would  eat fruit.    2.   So he can get rest.
Picture from the Topic Literature Lesson
Description of Picture & Comments by Student about their Picture	The student was able to recognize the pattern of the fruits and illustrated that in his picture.

1st Student's Answers & Comments to the Critical Thinking Questions	1.   Bologna and sandwiches.      2.     So he could get rest before going into his chrysalis.
Picture from the Topic Literature Lesson
Description of Picture & Comments by Student about their Picture	The student was able to illustrate the cover of the book.