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Animal Research Project

Description: 

This resource is a Kindergarten Unit on Animals. Within this unit, the Kindergartners learned and explored animals by reading, listening to stories, watching videos, viewing virtual field trips and animals on live web cams. They then researched and journaled information about their animals. Finally, the Kindergartners presented their animal report by using an online web tool presentation.

Learning Targets: 
Be able to identify one animal to learn more about to research in greater depth.
Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding of animals.
Gather information to create an animal research report.
Be able to identify animal characteristics, habitat, shelter and food eaten by their animal.
Demonstrate understanding of animal by online presentation and telling what they learned.
AttachmentSize
File Animal Research Unit Lesson Plans Chart (1) (1).docx58.1 KB
File common-core-animal-research-graphic-organizer.docx73.33 KB
Author: 
Jdixon
Content Area: 
Language Arts
Research
Language: 
English
Resource Type: 
Project
Licensing: 
Creative Commons Licence
Grade: 
K
Common Core Language Arts
Common Core Language Arts: 
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.10
Tags: 
cohort03-14-16

How are the standards/objectives assessed?

The classroom standards and objectives are assessed by the KWL chart, the common core animal research graphic organizer, and the constant observations and assessingof  students writing, reading, group work as they go.The online assessment and standards are assessed by the individual students online presentations they gave. Their choice was given to pick ShowMe, Educreations, or PowerPoint tools to ptresent. I also used an interactive online game to assess the childrens knowledge of animals. The site is  http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/science/variation/play/popup.shtml - Kindergartners played an online game in which they will interacted with a story to capture a thief by identifying animals.

 

Student prerequisite skills and knowledge

  • Kindergarten blended course assessment survey was given prior to this unit to better assess students reading, writing, and technology skills and attitudes to greater help my students and differntiate instruction where needed. 
  • This was done with the students in March and April so the students had prior reading and writing skills. Computer typing, keyboarding, mouse control, ipad instruction, and computer instruction was given to students earlier in the year. 
  • Teacher presentations via whiteboard on how to insert information, save information, record voice, and present online presentations. 

How is the concept or procedure explained or demonstrated?

I presented an online presentation using a whiteboatd by using many tools to give the students several options of ways to present their oral online reports, Differntiated instruction was given and 1 on 1 help to students who needed more instrction and help. Differentiated instruction was given by having stories read aloud or listening to Ipads, computers, videos, webcams, and virtual fieldtrip sites. Information was scribed to children or their big friends helped journal information for Kindergartners that may needed extra help. 

What concepts or procedures are being explained or demonstrated in this lesson object?

There were manyconcepts explained in this lesson.

  • We viewed many animals and discussed mammals, reptiles, insects, etc.  
  • Reading, writing, and recording important facts. 
  • Printing documents, images and saving information to student folders
  • Animal terms such as habitat, shelter, charcteristics of animnals,and  endangered species,
  • Maps and geography of the world. We explored where each students animals habitat was.
  • Web tools for oral presentations viewed models via whiteboard. PowerPoint, Educreations, and ShowMe.

What was your experience, both successes and challenges, using this lesson object with your students?

I loved using this lesson with my students. I especially liked the online portion with my Kindergartners. I was looking for more  blended instruction to implement within my classroom and while I researched this unit for ideas for my students, I was amazed at all of the great tools that are available to help enhance my young learners. I was so ecxited trying out new sites and tools as well as my students. The excitement was contagious and the students really wanted to learn more about animals.  I definately had varying abilites within my classroom so I had to differentiat my instruction a great deal as in any unit however, with the online tools, it gave more options for their personalized  learninging. I definately suggest having older students or parents help with certain aspects of the unit if available especially if you have a large class size. As a teacher,  I am definately a lifelong learner. I have learned that some things that work well with one group will not necessarily work for another group of kids. It is always trial and error and constant tweaking and adjusting to improve lessons as you go to best meet the needs of your own learners. With this being said, any thoughts,sugessions or ideas you may have will be helpful.