Endangered Animal Lesson Plan
by Kip Mitchell
Contributor Information:
Kip Mitchell
email: bayptkip@aol.com
Bay Point Elementary Magnet School
Standards:
Sunshine State Standards
Strand(s): reading, science, writing, technology
Standard(s):
Benchmark(s):
Reading
Standard2: The student constructs meaning from a wide range of texts.
LA.A.2.2.1 The student reads text and determines the main idea or essential
message, identifies relevant supporting details and facts, and arranges events
in chronological order.
LA.A.2.2.8 The student selects and uses a variety of appropriate reference materials,
including multiple representations of information such as maps, charts, and
photos, to gather information for research projects.
Writing
Standard 2: The student writes to communicate
ideas and information effectively.
LA.B.2.2.4 The student uses electronic technology, including word-processing
software and electronic encyclopedias,
to create, revise, retrieve, and verify information.
Science
How living things interact with their environment
Standard 1: The students understand the competitive, interdependent, cyclic
nature of living things in the environment.
SC.G.1.2.2 The student knows that living things compete in a climatic region
with other living things and that
structural adaptations make them fit for an environment.
SC.G.1.2.5 The student knows that animals eat plants or other animals to acquire
the energy they need for
survival.
Standard 2:The student understands the consequences of using limited natural
resources.
SC.G.2.2.1 The student knows that all living things must compete for Earth's
limited resources; organisms
best adapted to compete for available resources will be successful and pass
their adaptations (traits) to their
offspring.
SC.G.2.2.2 The student knows that the size of a population is dependent upon
the available resources within
its community.
Net
Standards
T.1.2.1.1 Basic
operations and concepts
1. Use keyboards and other common input and output devices efficiently and effectively.
T.3.2.5.3 Technology productivity tools
5. Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication,
and publishing activities to
create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside
the classroom.
T.4.2.6.4 Technology communication tools
6. Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information,
communicate with others
in support of direct and independent learning, and pursue personal interests.
T.4.2.7.4 Technology communication tools
7. Use telecommunications and online resources to participate in collaborative
problem-solving
activities for the purpose of developing solutions or products for audiences
inside and outside the classroom.
T.5.2.7.5 Technology research tools
9. Determine when technology is useful and select the appropriate tool(s) and
technology resources
to address a variety of tasks and problems.
Lesson Plan:
Title: Endangered Animals of Florida
Technology Resource Requirements: MAC or PC with internet connection; Powerpoint;
Appleworks or Word.
Subject Areas: reading, science,
writing, technology
Grade Level: grades 3-5
Short description: A lesson about endangered animals of Florida. Students will
get an overview of the many animals Florida has and will be required to select
an animal to do research on and present a report.
Approximate Time Required: 2-4
weeks
Procedures:
Gain Attention: You can begin this lesson by showing this powerpoint
presentation showing some of the endangered
animals of Florida. In addition, you could have
a speaker come in and talk about endangered animals that are common to your
area.
Tasks: Take students to the computer
lab, if you have one, and let them go online and visit this web
site showing
links to many endangered animal sites. Let students surf through the site to
get an overall picture of the different types of animals that are endangered
in Florida. Tell students that they are to select one animal to do research
on.
They will be required to do the following tasks: 1. Complete a notebook with
all the research material they have found on their animal. Organize the notebook
according to your particular classroom directions. 2. Include in their report,
information on the animal's habitat, food habits, description of the animal
and information on when this animal became endangered and why. 3. Construct
a diorama or other project display which shows their animal in their habitat.
4. Complete the Endangered Animal webquest questions
using the webquest link page as a resource. Make
copies of the webquest questions on the Manatee for the students to have while
working at the lab or classroom computers. Students can work on this project
independently at home or during class time depending on your schedule and the
availability of the media center and computer lab.
Using CRISS strategies: As
an introductory lesson, before viewing the powerpoint presentation, do a KWL
chart
with the students. This would include the 3 columns: What do you know? What
do you want to know? and What did
learn? In addition, at the conclusion of the unit using the items that they
list under what they learned, they could
then categorize the information for different animals making a map. This map
would have a particular animal in the
center of the paper in a circle and surrounding it would be categories such
as diet, appearance, habitat, reasons for endangerment, etc.; In each category,
students would list the information that they learned. This could be a group
activity where the groups each share the information on the maps
with each other. Another CRISS
activity
that would be valuable for this lesson would be Cause and Effect.
Using either Venn diagrams or the CRISS cause
and effect template, students would enter the information they researched on
why particular animals were
endangered and the effect of that endangerment.
(CRISS = creating independence through student
owned strategies. Website can be
found here.)
Interactions: Students may work
in pairs if so desired. They will be required to make an oral presentation to
the class showing their notebook and their diorama. They may also work in pairs
in the computer lab accessing information.
Tools: Computer, encyclopedias
and other research tools; internet access; powerpoint; student notebooks; web
pages on endangered animal links, Manatee webquest questions and links; rubric;
project tools for diorama.
Assessments: Use the following
rubric to assess the student's performance on this
lesson plan.