1. Context:
Unit exploring whales through literature, writing, science and math.
A. Activities will be for the entire class.
B. Students need to know there are many things we can learn from studeying different plants and animals, scientific jobs that are related to the study of these animals, and how the skills they are learning relate to this type of work.
2. Objective:
A. Students will learn about whale communications, connect writing to a specific topic and learn how books can be found on a specific topic
B. Students will be expected to express their existing knowledge verbally.
C. Students will be expected to be good listeners and follow oral instructions.
3. Method
A. Materials needed
1) Students will not need any materials.
2) I will need the books: The Humback Song and Orca's Song to read to students, informational sheet that discusses whale communications, CD from Mrs. Anderson the Music teacher of whale communication, and a marker. (Note: I would include visiting one of the websites that includes audible whale communication or using an interactive CD-Rom kit on whales if using anagin. These are not an option in this classroom as the speakers on the computers and are not set up and available in this room at this time.)
B. Students are arranged at tables with up to eight students at each set of tables for seat work.
C.; 1.) This lesson will begin with a brief reveiw of information covered to date. Then read the The Humback Song and Orca's Song to students.
2.) I will provide students with a sheet discussing whale communications after asking students why and how they think whales communicate.
3.)Listen to the CD and discuss what students hear. Students will then work on a deciphering worksheet to complete sentences as a review whales.
4.) When students are finished, they will be able to go to the computers to begin researching a whale of their choice at www.enchantedlearning.com/whales.
4. Evaluation: Students will be assesses on following directions, listening and participating.
A. I will use the following rubric to assess student's progress:
4 = Child has followed instructions and participated in discussion.
3 = Child followed most directions and participated in discussion.
2 = Child has followed some directions and contributed little to discussion.
1 = Child did not follow directions and did not participate in discussion.
B. I will record student progress in each area according to the above rubric. The work produced either on their worksheet or research paper will sere as evidence of their listening and following directions. Observation during activities and reading will also be considered for participation.
C. Our next lesson will reveiw material covered and learn about the feeding habits of whales including an experiment.
5. Feedback:
Mrs. St. Ivany suggested having students rewrite their research paper of whale border lined paper which she has. Tese would look nicer for display and relate to the topic.
6. Reflection The CD was a great accompaniment to the lesson. I will need to look for something to use in the future. The CD she has was from her daughter as she completed some research on whales. It was also interesting that the music teacher had introduced the students to the songs of the Humpback whales knowing we were studying them. I appreciated the cooperation and crossing the subject over into Music. The students offered a lot of information they had already learned from music.
*, *., Orca's Song., Scholastic Inc., 1999.
Enchanted Learning website - www.enchantedlearning.com.
Lesson One | Lesson Two | Lesson Three | Lesson Four | Lesson Five
Lesson Six | Lesson Eight | Lesson Nine | Lesson Ten