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Date Approved

TopicQuest Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson:
Wacky Weather

Primary Learning Outcome (PLO):
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.
 

Related QCC Standard(s):

Assessed QCC:
A. Grade: 1
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. Poster Board
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: Wacky Weather  &  URL: http://www.valdosta.edu/~vclynch/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 weather.  List 2 or more questions that introduce students to topic of weather that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "Did anyone watch the news to see what type of whether we would have?"  "Can you tell me something that you found out about today's weather?"   Today we are going to learn about weather by visiting websites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about weather.  I have made a special weather 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 websites about weather then you will pretend to be an assistant for your teacher while she is out of the room and make a poster board and draw a picture telling some interesting things about weather hazards. 

Check for understanding before going on.

Have students explore and discuss the information in each of the 3 or 4 pre-selected websites.  Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited websites.  (Save "Weather Hazards" website to use in Mission Project.)  List three or more questions.
1. Can you give me three different types of weather we can have?
2. What does sever thunderstorms involve?
3. What do you do as soon as you hear lightning?

Practice and feedback related to the PLO

Read mission project to students.  Explain to students that they are going to be assistance for their teacher.  Discuss assistance with students and show them the newspaper with examples of people assisting others. 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, "Weather Hazards."  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 articles and draw pictures for the mission project.  While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.]

Mission Statement   By now you should have know a lot about storms and how they begin. You are now to observe some fellow classmates while the teacher has gone to the restroom. You hear a loud thump and see that the wind outside is roaring loudly and is out of control. The school intercom announces a thunderstorm and lightning. You are to get the kids to a safe location in the room. What do you consider? Mission Instructions: 1. Using this website, Weather Hazards, and your teachers assistance find some things to look out for and avoid. 2. Write those things on a poster board and hang them up for all the class to see. Illustrate some of the objects to avoid what could be very dangerous. 3. Brainstorm with other classmates of other hazards to consider at school, home, or the grocery store. Jot those down on another poster board.  Illustrate and show those hazards that you feel are very important. 4. Share these hazards with your classmates and let them know what they should do at school when the teacher is out or at home with their parents. Good job! You have saved the lives of many of your buddies. They appreciate your hard work!

Step Three
Closure:

Have students discuss their mission project of their articles, pictures and information they found on the Internet about weather.  Tell students that your topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or home to learn more about weather.  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
 

Assessing the primary learning outcome(s):
A. Technology Integration K-10
Student will be assessed through observation while using 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.
 

Extension(Optional unless required by the course instructor)

Remediation(Optional unless required by the course instructor)

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.")  My student has trouble with auditory processing. 

2. List the specific 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. My accomodation for the special student. 

3. Explain what you would add to this lesson plan to accommodate your special student?  I would show the special student visually what to do. I will tell him and go to the special student and visually show 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.

The TopicQuest lesson allowed students to learn information about the different types of weather. They were actually excited in reading the information about tornadoes and scrolling through the pictures. They were not familiar with what a tsunami was but after visiting and reading the information, they were familiar with it.
The activity allowed the students to be involved in learning and in protecting their classmates. I observed them thinking very hard and coming up with things they would do to make sure all of their classmates were safe.

    b. Describe and give examples of how your TopicQuest lesson illustrated your understanding of content and tools of inquiry.

My TopicQuest lesson illustrated my understanding of content and tools of inquiry because I was allowed to do research on the different types of weather and find several websites relating to each. I also had to construct an activity for the students to complete using the information I found on weather.

    c. Describe and give examples of how students were engaged in learning and responded during your lesson.

Students were eager to click on the different icons and look at the information about the different types of weather. The students were not familiar with what a tsunami was. They clicked on the icon and we read the information together. They were then able to relate better to the information.

  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 was able to operate the mouse, click on the icons, and scroll through the information.
        Student Two: Satisfactory, The student was able to operate the mouse, click on the icons, and scroll through the information.  

3. Describe what you would do differently and why if you taught this lesson again.
 
  If I taught this lesson again, I would hope that I would be able to actually use my webpage. I was not able to bring it up, so I used the FEMA for Kids webpage to do the activity.

A first grader drew a picture of one of the hazards he felt was important in keeping his classmates safe.He said that everyone should stay under their desk to avoid getting hit by falling objects.He drew a picture of a student walking around in the classroom and drew a red circle around it and a line through it to indicate that what the student was doing was not correct and should not done.	This picture was drawn by a first grader.  He said the best way he felt his classmates would be safe would be for them to stay inside the classroom. He wanted to keep everyone together instead of having students spreaded out throughout the building. They should not go down the hall or outside the building.He drew a picture of his classroom door and had students standing inside the door.