Teachers Plan
Introduction
Unit of Study: Life cycles
Grade Level: 1st
Curriculum Background: Students in the 1st grade complete two Science units. The second Science unit focuses on the life cycle of animals, specifically butterflies.
Description of the Technology Tool: Students will be using Weebly to complete this assignment. Weebly is a free website creator tool that allows classroom teachers a safe space to share information with their students. All of the websites students need to research on will be compiled on a class Weebly site. Weebly also has a blogging component so students will have the opportunity to blog about their newly learned information with peers.
Why is this tool being Used: This tool is being implemented because it is free, simple, and user friendly. A tool like Weebly is very age appropriate for 1st graders and allows them an opportunity to learn and use a technological tool. Weebly will enhance their learning because it will allow all students (especially those who have little experience with computers) the chance to explore and become "Scientific Researchers". Students will be thoughtfully seeking knowledge instead of sitting and listening to their teacher tell simply them information.
Standards:
CCSS
1.L.1 Understand characteristics of various environments and behaviors of humans that enable plants and animals to survive.
1.L.2 Summarize the needs of living organisms for energy and growth.
1.L.2.1 Summarize the basic needs of a variety of different plants (including air, water, nutrients, and light) for energy and growth.
1.L.2.2 Summarize the basic needs of a variety of different animals (including air, water, and food) for energy and growth.
NETS
3. Research and Information Fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: a.plan strategies to guide inquiry.b.locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.c.evaluate
Objectives:
Students will be able to identify the four stages of a butterflies life cycle.
Students will be able to complete at least three questions correctly on the butterfly sheet.
Students will be able to create an informational poster describing the four stages of a butterflies life cycle that includes at least three facts about butterflies.
Students will be able to blog and share at least one fact they learned about butterflies or one response to a peer.
Materials:
-Computer/iPad
-Weebly
-Butterfly Sheet
-Informational Writing Poster Sheet
Web Resources
http://www.kidsbutterfly.org/life-cycle
http://www.thebutterflysite.com/life-cycle.shtml (Wonderful pictures of each stage of butterfly development)
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/insects/butterfly (Background information & images)
Lesson Sequence:
Day 1
**Check out this Butterfly Life Cycle Prezi for one possible way of introducing this unit to young students.Students will fill out the 3 Column Chart about Butterflies (See Student Plan)
Students being to explore and conduct research on the designated websites
(20-30 minutes)
Day 2
Students continue their research
Students fill out their "Butterfly Information Sheet" independently
(20-30 minutes)
Day 3
Students draw the four stages of the butterflies life cycle
Students may begin blogging about what they have learned
(20-30 minutes)
Day 4
Students finish informational poster
Students will continue blogging about what they have learned
(20 minutes)
Day 5
Students will present their work to the class
Read through the class blog as a whole group
(30-40 minutes)
Follow Up: In our school district we are given specific parameters for the homework we send each week. We do not typically send Science homework home. Yet, to follow up this lesson it would be beneficial to have the students bring home their informational posters and teach one of their family members about the life cycle of a butterfly.
Assessment:
Assessment will be given in multiple ways.
**Participation in each activity:
3 stars- The student had a positive attitude towards the project as a whole
2 stars- The student was generally engaged in the project and needed a little direction at times.
1 star- The student needed many reminded to stay focused on researching and finding information.
**Completion of the Four Stages of a Life Cycle Sheet
3 stars- All facts are filled in correctly.Each stage is drawn accurately and colored.
2 stars- Most facts are filled in correctly.Each stage is drawn accurately.
1 star- Some facts are filled in correctly.Most stages are drawn accurately.
0 stars- Few or no facts are filled in correctly.Few or no stages are drawn accurately.
**Blogging
3 stars- The student made 3 or more comments on the class blog.
2 stars- The student made at least 2 comments on the class blog.
1 star- The student made 1 comment on the class blog.
Handouts: The handouts required to complete this lesson are the Butterfly Information Sheet and the Life Cycles Sheet hyperlinks to these materials
Possible sheet to hand out to your students or to enlarge and put up in the room: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/lifecycle.shtml
Unit of Study: Life cycles
Grade Level: 1st
Curriculum Background: Students in the 1st grade complete two Science units. The second Science unit focuses on the life cycle of animals, specifically butterflies.
Description of the Technology Tool: Students will be using Weebly to complete this assignment. Weebly is a free website creator tool that allows classroom teachers a safe space to share information with their students. All of the websites students need to research on will be compiled on a class Weebly site. Weebly also has a blogging component so students will have the opportunity to blog about their newly learned information with peers.
Why is this tool being Used: This tool is being implemented because it is free, simple, and user friendly. A tool like Weebly is very age appropriate for 1st graders and allows them an opportunity to learn and use a technological tool. Weebly will enhance their learning because it will allow all students (especially those who have little experience with computers) the chance to explore and become "Scientific Researchers". Students will be thoughtfully seeking knowledge instead of sitting and listening to their teacher tell simply them information.
Standards:
CCSS
1.L.1 Understand characteristics of various environments and behaviors of humans that enable plants and animals to survive.
1.L.2 Summarize the needs of living organisms for energy and growth.
1.L.2.1 Summarize the basic needs of a variety of different plants (including air, water, nutrients, and light) for energy and growth.
1.L.2.2 Summarize the basic needs of a variety of different animals (including air, water, and food) for energy and growth.
NETS
3. Research and Information Fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: a.plan strategies to guide inquiry.b.locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.c.evaluate
Objectives:
Students will be able to identify the four stages of a butterflies life cycle.
Students will be able to complete at least three questions correctly on the butterfly sheet.
Students will be able to create an informational poster describing the four stages of a butterflies life cycle that includes at least three facts about butterflies.
Students will be able to blog and share at least one fact they learned about butterflies or one response to a peer.
Materials:
-Computer/iPad
-Weebly
-Butterfly Sheet
-Informational Writing Poster Sheet
Web Resources
http://www.kidsbutterfly.org/life-cycle
http://www.thebutterflysite.com/life-cycle.shtml (Wonderful pictures of each stage of butterfly development)
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/insects/butterfly (Background information & images)
Lesson Sequence:
Day 1
**Check out this Butterfly Life Cycle Prezi for one possible way of introducing this unit to young students.Students will fill out the 3 Column Chart about Butterflies (See Student Plan)
Students being to explore and conduct research on the designated websites
(20-30 minutes)
Day 2
Students continue their research
Students fill out their "Butterfly Information Sheet" independently
(20-30 minutes)
Day 3
Students draw the four stages of the butterflies life cycle
Students may begin blogging about what they have learned
(20-30 minutes)
Day 4
Students finish informational poster
Students will continue blogging about what they have learned
(20 minutes)
Day 5
Students will present their work to the class
Read through the class blog as a whole group
(30-40 minutes)
Follow Up: In our school district we are given specific parameters for the homework we send each week. We do not typically send Science homework home. Yet, to follow up this lesson it would be beneficial to have the students bring home their informational posters and teach one of their family members about the life cycle of a butterfly.
Assessment:
Assessment will be given in multiple ways.
**Participation in each activity:
3 stars- The student had a positive attitude towards the project as a whole
2 stars- The student was generally engaged in the project and needed a little direction at times.
1 star- The student needed many reminded to stay focused on researching and finding information.
**Completion of the Four Stages of a Life Cycle Sheet
3 stars- All facts are filled in correctly.Each stage is drawn accurately and colored.
2 stars- Most facts are filled in correctly.Each stage is drawn accurately.
1 star- Some facts are filled in correctly.Most stages are drawn accurately.
0 stars- Few or no facts are filled in correctly.Few or no stages are drawn accurately.
**Blogging
3 stars- The student made 3 or more comments on the class blog.
2 stars- The student made at least 2 comments on the class blog.
1 star- The student made 1 comment on the class blog.
Handouts: The handouts required to complete this lesson are the Butterfly Information Sheet and the Life Cycles Sheet hyperlinks to these materials
Possible sheet to hand out to your students or to enlarge and put up in the room: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/activities/printouts/lifecycle.shtml