Units+of+Instruction+(Our+class+Curriculum)



=Now, Let's Check Out a Sample Unit of Study!! =

I have chosen to design a unit based in the area of 4th Grade Life Science, more specifically a unit that explores habitats and the relationships between living and non-living things. All of the material is based on the Colorado State Content Standards for 4th Grade and has been designed to coordinate with the requirements for a 21st Century style classroom. I hope that you enjoy what you see and can envision it being in support of an active an exciting classroom experience! (Please feel free to take a gander at the CDE's website where you will find a more detailed description of what the state holds as necessary standards and benchmarks for 4th Grade Science: 4th Grade Science)

As an introduction to our Habitats unit, please take a second to watch this neat video. It's not the whole meal...just a little taste!

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**// Investigation of Habitats //**

// Nicole Gray //

// Unit Overview //

Overview //The Habitats Unit aims to teach fourth grade students the concepts behind the interdependence and interactions found between all living and non-living components of a habitat.// Student Audience //This unit is intended to meet the educational requirements of fourth grade students, as the content has been designed around the Colorado State Content Standards for the fourth grade.// Time-frame //The time needed to implement this unit is a total of 15 hours, broken into 15 one hour periods over the course of three weeks. (This time-frame is based upon a 36 week school year, with a five day per week attendance requirement)// Rationale //The goal of this unit is to lay a foundation in the Life Sciences. Without the foundational knowledge of the way that an ecosystem or habitat functions, students will not have the necessary background knowledge required to move forward in this area of study.// Unit Objectives //As a result of this unit, students will be able to:// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Effectively use technological tools in the classroom and as tools in support of their learning// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Work together cooperatively in groups// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Work independently// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Use problem solving strategies to draw conclusions// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Use data and gathered evidence to develop scientific explanations// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Identify the living and non-living components of an ecosystem/habitat// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Explain what an ecosystem is// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Explain what a habitat is// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Offer a scientific explanation of how living things adapt to their habitats// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Identify the components that make certain habitats unique// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Differentiate between different types of habitats// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Understand, Explain and/or model the way that non-living components of flow through an ecosystem// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Explain what an endangered habitat is// <span style="color: #ff5c00; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Unit Standards (Taken from the Colorado State Content Standards) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Explain and understand the relationships between the living and non-living components of an ecosystem or habitat// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Compare and contrast different habitat types// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Use evidence to develop a scientific explanation on how organisms adapt to their habitat// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Identify the components that make a habitat type unique// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Create an evaluate models of the flow of the nonliving components or resources through an ecosystem// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Make a plan to positively impact a local ecosystem// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · //Investigate endangered habitats by using information from a variety of sources,// <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; margin-left: 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">//(of which students will be able to question, examine, evaluate and use ethically)// <span style="color: #ff5c00; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Variations or Adaptations <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">//In order to make sure that the curriculum is reaching all of the children in our classroom on an attainable level, (one that will support their involvement on both an individual and group level), the curriculum and associated materials can be adjusted, accommodated or modified. Differentiated methods and modes of instruction can be utilized and things such as assignment due dates, the medium in which assignments are completed, delivered and the ways in which each child is assessed can all be modified and/or accommodated in order to meet criteria specific to supporting their unique areas of strength or need. We will look to support every child’s full inclusion in the classroom by designing the curriculum around a child centered, group supported, and collaborative approach to learning. By having the kids work together on group centered, child driven assignments all of the kids are provided with authentic and original social and educational opportunities in which the implemented curriculum can be supported.//

<span style="color: #ff5c00; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%;"> Sample Lessons

media type="custom" key="9028478" <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Please check out this great video play-list. It will give you a general sense of what the Habitat Unit will cover is, plus it's kind of fun! <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Video Descriptions, (As they appear in order):
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Bill Nye the Science Guy's wacky rendition of a 90's hip-hop song, so appropriately re-named "We are all connected."
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The second video on the play-list follows a fellow exploring his buddy's junked-out backyard in search of animals. The big idea here is that habitats can be found anywhere.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This video offers a fairly thorough and detailed overview of habitats and their inhabitants.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Endangered habitats is the theme found in this video. Take a look at the effects of several causes of environmental decay; done of course to some very moving music.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Finally, one more look at endangered habitats. The responsible party....human beings. This video is a real eye-opener.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson 1:
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Title of lesson: Habitat Shmabitat <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Today's lesson will consist of two goals: Introducing our new unit called, "Investigations of Habitats" and splitting the class into their research groups so that they can begin their initial research in the computer lab. We will begin class by going over the unit's outline and I will explain to the students how we will carry out the plan to complete this unit, (each child will receive a handout on this material and you can find a copy in the resources section below. This document describes the unit and also offers some great resources and suggestions to help assist our students in the learning process). After the unit introduction we will split the kids up into groups of four (these groups will have been previously arranged in order to suit the specific needs and strengths of each student) and move down to the computer lab so that we can begin to explore the world of habitats. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Today' we will be working in the computer lab so that the kids have access to the internet. This initial lesson is meant to open the door into the world of habitats and to give the kids an opportunity to look at the many different types of habitats that there are so that in their groups they can choose the habitat that they would most like to do their project on. For today's in-class assignment I would like for each group of children to use both the provided books and the internet as tools for use in trying to answer the question: What is a habitat? In the answer I am looking for them to tell me four things: what a habitat is, (in detail), what the components of a habitat are, who lives in a habitat and where you might find a habitat. At the end of the lesson I will ask each group to officially decide which kind of habitat they have decided to do their projects on; these decisions will be the basis for each group's work on habitats for the duration of the unit. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Today's homework assignment is to complete the word-find puzzle, consisting of some key vocabulary words needed for comprehension of the ideas in this unit, (see document in resources section below). <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources/materials needed: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For this lesson we will need the following resources or materials: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Access to the internet, (enough to support as many groups of four as the class requires; ideally this would be done in a computer lab)
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Books on the topic of habitats
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The following introductory hand-out:
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The homework sheet:

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">By using technology in this lesson we have given our students the opportunity to explore information, via the World Wide Web, that they might not otherwise have access to.Using the internet as a research tool, (alongside of the use of books) allows us to offer resources, ideas and otherwise out-of-reach materials to our students giving them an experience that is far richer than just using the traditional book-only methods of research. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Evaluation: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">As of right now, my main concern about teaching this lesson is that there may not be enough time in the given period for the kids to really explore the internet and books the way that they would need or want to in order to answer the lesson's question and choose their group habitat.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: left;">Lesson #2 <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: left;">Title of the Lesson: Pieces of the Puzzle-Identifying the components of a habitat <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: left;">Description of the Lesson:<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> Today's lesson has two objectives: To formally introduce the students to the main components of any kind of habitat and to have the students, (in their groups), identify the components of their own habitats. This lesson is one of the longer ones and will require three, one hour class periods to complete. In this lesson we will be using a couple of different Web 2.0 tools, namely a "Prezi" and a cartoon maker called "TOONDOO". The "prezi" will be used to present necessary facts and info. on the topic of habitat components; the actual "prezi" to be used in the lesson is listed below under the "resources" section. The cartoon maker, "TOONDOO", will be used in place of a traditional organizer and I will be asking the students, (in their groups) to create a comic strip that illustrates the components of their chosen habitats, (please see my example comic strip on the topic of desert habitats, listed below in the resources section).

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: left;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Once again we will be working in the computer lab, as the foundations for the assignments are based in using Web 2.0 tools. I will start the first period off by showing the kids an online presentation on the components of habitats, (created by using "Prezi"). After we have walked through the details, I will have the kids break up into their groups and try to identify the main components of their own habitats. Using approved internet resources and books on the topic of habitats, the kids will need to describe the physical environment, the climate, the types of animals/organisms, list possible sources of food and the vegetation within their chosen habitats. Once they have identified and described all of the components of their habitats we will begin working with a Web 2.0 tool called TOONDOO, which will give the kids the opportunity to create a comic strip, illustrating these main components of their habitats. They may choose to do the comic strip in any way that they would like, as long as it: 1). Stays on the topic of their specific habitat, 2). Clearly tells about and explains all of the main components of the habitat and 3). Maintains the standards for school/classroom appropriate language and content. I would expect for this portion of the lesson to take the students anywhere from two to three one-hour periods, thus this lesson has been allowed a longer time period for completion than many of the others.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: left;">Resources/Materials Needed: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">media type="custom" key="8496574" <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Using the Web 2.0 tools in this lesson changes the experience all together. The freedom and flexibility of the "Prezi" allows for a more exciting and applicable presentation of the facts. The use of the TOONDOO comic strip maker puts a whole new spin on the idea of organizing your thoughts and ideas. By using the cartoon maker, the kids are able to be more creative and access a more flexible and fun option for relaying the factual information that is a necessary part of out unit. It is my opinion that by offering lessons in more creative and flexible formats the students will be more apt to take part in the material and desire to be actively engaged in the learning process.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Internet access
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Prezi Presentation: What's in a Habitat? (see the embedded presentation below)
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|ToonDoo.com (Let's make a comic strip!) Click this link to go to the site.]
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">media type="custom" key="8499648"media type="custom" key="8499680"media type="custom" key="8499682"media type="custom" key="8499684"media type="custom" key="8499686"media type="custom" key="8499688"
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Books on the topic of habitats
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Paper and pencils for pre-comic brainstorming

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson #3 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Title of the Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The differences in habitat composition <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of the Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">In this lesson we will aim to answer the question: Do all habitats have the same components? In order to do this, I will have the kids present their comic strips that they made in Lesson #2 to the rest of the class, we will take notes on all of the similarities and differences and then discuss our findings. From this point, I will ask each child to independently post a minimum of 5 differences that they noticed between their habitat components and the components of their classmates' habitats. For this activity we will use the "Wallwisher" Web 2.0 tool.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Today we will be presenting our group habitat comic strips to the rest of the class. While the kids in the audience are listening to the presenting groups I will ask that they be writing down notes on the different kinds of habitat components that are highlighted during the presentations. Once we have completed all of the group presentations, we will have a class-wide discussion regarding the information that the kids gathered on the habitat differences. During the last 20 minutes of the period, I will ask for each child to post a minimum of five posts to our discussion board found on "Wallwisher". In these posts they will need to identify at least five differences between their own group's habitat and the other groups' habitats.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources and Materials Needed: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For this lesson we will need-

media type="custom" key="8501214"
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Internet access (for posting to the Wallwisher)
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Access to the previously established Wallwisher Wall
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Paper and writing utensils for note taking
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The students' completed comic strips

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Using technology will provide a useful and organized fashion for the students to sort through the differences in habitat components. While this task could be completed using a more traditional web-mapping approach, this approach offers the chance to work on things such as typing skills, exposure to a unique medium for technology based communication and not to mention that it's a new and exciting experience for the kids which in itself helps to keep their interests' peaked.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson #4 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Title of the Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">"To be alive, or not to be alive..." Parts I & II: The Living & The Non-Living

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of the Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This lesson's goal will be to help the kids answer the question: What are the living and non-living components of a habitat? We will use internet based resources to search through available information in an effort to answer a series of questions that will provide a foundation of knowledge on this topic. Recognizing the fact that there are living and non-living components within all habitats and being able to easily identify these components is essential in understanding the way that a habitat maintains balance and proper function.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For today's assignment we will go on an internet scavenger hunt. I have created a web-based worksheet/document/learning aid that will guide the students, in their groups, through some predetermined internet web-sites that hold specific answers to questions posed within each section of the aid. Once they have completed the assignment, they should be able to easily identify both the living and non-living components of not only their own group's habitats, but of the other groups as well. As an extra added bonus, I have told the kids that all groups to finish the assignment by the end of the period will earn an extra "ticket-out" that will allow them some extra recess time.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources and Materials: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">By incorporating technology into this lesson plan I have given the kids an opportunity to "discover" many of the ideas in this lesson on a more independent level than if I were to have presented the information to them in a teacher-led fashion. Research shows that children tend to learn better when they are taught by and work side-by-side with their peers and this particular design, along with the incorporation of technology allows for just that kind of opportunity, along with the chance to do something a bit more fun then just sitting in a desk listening to a lecture.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Internet access
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Scavenger Hunt Document: (BELOW)
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[[file:EDT 3610- Scavenger Hunt.docx]]

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson #5 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson Title: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Endangered Habitats: How do they affect me? <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of the Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Here the students will work to explore endangered habitats and in doing so will learn how we are all interconnected and affected by the endangerment of the world's habitats. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For this assignment we will be doing a research project. Using books, the internet and any other verifiable resources that the students choose, they will be exploring the <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">world of endangered habitats. This is a three part assignment which will consist of: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources and Materials: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For this assignment the students will need:
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Part I: Researching an endangered habitat similar to their own
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Part II: Identifying a local habitat that is in need of help and making a plan to positively impact it.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Part III: Preparing a presentation of their research findings and plan using any number of creative presentation options.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Access to various books, (The Shelfari below offers some great options to get them started)

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">media type="custom" key="8677688" <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">By incorporating technology into this lesson the kids are able to explore avenues of research through internet exploration that they would otherwise not be able to. The incorporation of the Tumblr offers a unique and quirky way to present the assignment as well as the opportunity to have internet access to the assignment details and explanation, (could be useful for parents and kid alike).
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Internet access
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">To explore various web-links and web resources
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">To view the assignment page posted in Tumblr: Endangered Habitats: How do they affect me?
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Various materials for creating their presentations

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson # 6 <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Title of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">You've Got to Have That Flow <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Students will be introduced to the cycle and interactivity of a habitat's a-biotic and biotic components. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Students will watch, listen and take part in an interactive power-point presentation introducing the cycle and interactivity amongst and between a habitat's a-biotic and biotic components. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources and Materials: media type="custom" key="8905694" <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The inclusion of technology in this lesson allows students to have access to a interactive and visually stimulating presentation of the concepts and ideas found in this lesson. The presentation could of course be accomplished without the use of a power-point, computer and internet access, but without them would not be able to offer the same depth or extent of variety and authenticity that this technologically based version could.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Computer & Internet Access to support the lesson
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Interactive Power-point presentation: "You've Got To Have That Flow"

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson #7 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Title of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">What Does All of This Mean To Me: Putting Our Endangered Habitat Plans into Action. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This lesson will pick up where lesson #5 left off and will give the students an opportunity to put the plans for positively impacting a local habitat into action. This lesson will be spread out over the duration of three weeks and will complete the endangered habitats portion of our unit. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For this assignment the kids will be developing their previously established plans to positively impact a local environment and in doing so will collaboratively create a series of projects that will be the foundation for our annual Earth Day Celebration. As part of the assignment each group will be creating a Vocaroo PODCAST that will highlight the main points of their projects as well as serve as an invite for the rest of the school and community members. As the grand finale for the lesson, on Earth Day, the kids will actually be DOING the projects that they have planned out, alongside of their peers, family and community members. For instance, if one group of students came up with a plan to plant a tree at the school or community park, they would first figure out how to get the tree, (do they need to raise money to buy it, or could it be donated), then decide what kinds of resources and materials that they would need to plant the tree, they would need to figure out where they could/want to plant the tree and finally be able to tell me and the rest of the community why their project positively impacts the local environment. Then, on Earth Day (as part of our Earth Day Celebration), we would plant the tree, following the plan that they had come up with. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources and Materials: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This assignment format is quite unique and in fact provides a level of access that cannot be matched by live lecture. It offers accessibility and accommodations to students that couldn't be offered with such ease in access or availability otherwise. This format could be particularly useful in such instances where kids were not able to attend class, where they may benefit from having access to unlimited repetitions of instruction, etc.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The classroom series of PODCASTs, providing assignment details
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿media type="file" key="EDT 3610-Podcast
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">The first in our series of three PODCASTS, this one gives an overview of the current classroom assignment.
 * media type="file" key="EDT 3610-Podcast
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The second in a series of three, this PODCAST gives a quick outline of what will be involved in creating their own PODCASTS.
 * media type="file" key="EDT 3610-Podcast
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The final PODCAST in our series of three, this show is a reading of Shell Silverstein's "the Giving Tree", lesson and advice included!
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Vocaroo PODcast example
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">media type="custom" key="8903684"
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Computer and Internet Access
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Permission from parents to be involved and to leave the school grounds on Earth Day, for implementation of project plans.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Access to books and other various research materials and resources.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Possibly telephone access or materials needed to write and send letters, (depending on project plans; students may need to get in touch with businesses, etc.)

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson #8 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Title of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">To Adapt or Not to Adapt: The story of how animals adapt to their environments. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This lesson will cover the basics of how and why animals, (of all kinds), adapt to the environments that they live in. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">As an introduction to the idea that animals must adapt to their environments in order to survive, we will view my digital story titled, "Once Upon An Appendix", which will provide a personal human element to the ideas behind the concept of adaptation; as otherwise I feel that it may be hard to relate to the idea that animals are ever changing in response to their environments. After watching this video, I will have the kids split up into pairs and begin working on developing their own digital story. Each story will need to be on the topic of adaptation, but can be approached in any way that the kids feel fit. The goal here is to try and help them understand how and why animals adapt to their environment, so any way that they can relate to this idea is the way that I feel they will be learning the most. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources and Materials: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For this assignment we will need: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">﻿From a technological aspect, this assignment offers kids the opportunity to make their own movie! How cool is that!? In almost any other setting, using any other tools, it would be a HUGE task to have all of the kids in my class create a movie of their own...maybe even impossible. But by using the technology behind Photostory3 and YouTube, I can have my students write a script, pick out pictures and create an amazing digital story that they can call their own...Amazing!
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">computer access
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">internet access
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">YouTube video: "Once Upon An Appendix"
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿media type="custom" key="9094106"
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">paper, pencils
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">books and websites on animal adaptation

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson #9 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Title of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Ready, Set, Design a Habitat!

media type="custom" key="9140106" <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">This lesson will be built around having each group of kids design their own habitat. The kids will view my exemplar Animoto video, titled "My Desert Habitat" and then each group will work to create their own Animoto video, which will tell the story of their unique habitat. The kids will also be viewing the slide-show, "The Crazy Eight", and deciding how each of the eight mentioned habitat attributes fits into their own habitat. This lesson will require one week's worth of time, (approximately 5 hours) and will be the prelude to our final lesson, entitled "Let's Make It Already", where each group of kids will be able to make their own living and functioning habitats. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Let's design a habitat. Depending on what type of habitat your group had previously chosen to concentrate on, you will be deciding how the "Crazy Eight" fit into your specific habitat. You will be watching my Animoto video, titled "My Desert Habitat", which is an example of what I will be expecting you and your group to create. You and your group will need to create a script, highlighting all of the details of your habitat. In this script you will need to describe a number of specific things, such as what the climate is like in your habitat, what kinds of plants will grow there, where your habitat would be found, what kind of animals you might find there and describe what the landscape or features of this place look like. Once you have completed your script, you will need to gather up pictures of all the things that you listed in your habitat script. I would like for you to come up with at least 20 pictures that work to provide a good visual illustration of what your habitat would look like in real life. Your final step in this assignment is to put the script and the pictures together into an Animoto video of your own, (just like mine in the example). This is all in preparation for our next lesson, where we will be building the habitats that you have designed. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources and Materials: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">For this assignment we will need- <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">By using the technologically based mediums, Vuvox and Animoto, I feel as though I will be able to accommodate all of my students in ways that are unique and supportive to their individual needs. I will be able to offer my students the opportunity to access this information both in school as well as outside of school, along with the opportunity to view and create projects that provide unique and creative opportunities for learning. Students will be able to view the materials as many times as they need to, or have the opportunity to view them at a pace which they are individually comfortable with. Not only will this format increase the flexibility of the lesson, but it will provide a more interesting and creative way to view and create.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> access to computers and books for more research and pictures
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">all of the information that each group has collected up to this point
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The Vuvox slide-show presentation, "The Crazy Eight"
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">media type="custom" key="9177520" <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 70%;"> Check out my Vuvox presentation, "The Crazy Eight". It will provide <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 70%;">you with the eight essentials that any habitat needs to function properly.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The Animoto Video: "My Desert Habitat"
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">media type="custom" key="9256382"<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 70%;"> Here you'll find the video "My Desert Habitat". It is an example of what I am asking each group of students to create on their own.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lesson #10 <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Title of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Let's Make It Already!!! <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Description of Lesson: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> The kids will finally have a chance to make their very own habitats. Each group will put together their own terrarium, based on the habitat that they initially chose. We will need one full class period to complete this project. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Assignment: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Build a habitat! Watch my video below on how to build a terrarium and then get started on making your own. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Resources and Materials: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> For this assignment we will need: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Technology Reflection: <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Incorporating technology into this lesson allows students a more flexible and accommodating format, as well as a more interesting way to view the material. I think that it could be helpful to be able to play back the video as often as each student finds to be necessary, as you cannot continuously repeat the steps involved in making a terrarium, (without a ton of trouble). It also offers an "off-campus" opportunity for viewing the lesson, which would be great for kids that have a high rate of absenteeism due to things like medical appointments or health issues.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Supplies to build a terrarium:
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">glass jar
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">charcoal, planters mix, cactus mix, rocks of various sizes
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">plants (various types depending on habitat type)
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">water
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Mrs. Gray's Jaycut video:
 * media type="custom" key="9178800"