Technology Integrated Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan Title		 Nature's Communities
Developed by Linda Lang  (Cooperating Teacher) and Tiffany Barr (Student Teacher)
Subject Area Science
Topic Nature's Neighbors (Plant and Animal Communities)
Grade Level 3-5
Lesson Summary      This lesson integrates art, language arts, and computer skills with science and could be used as a culminating activity.  Students create dioramas of  plant and animal communities that include at least five living things.  Students then write descriptions of the populations in their communities and how the populations affect each other.  Students are encouraged to apply their best writing and spelling skills.  They use a checklist to revise and proofread their writing.  Editing is completed working one-on-one with each student.  Students then type the edited paragraphs using the computer and applying their word processing skills.  Students' digital pictures are then added to the paragraphs.
Standards National Content Standards
Science Standards (K-4)
Content Standard C: Life Science
C1: The characteristics of organisms
C3: Organisms and environments

English Language Arts Standards
5.  Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.


National Educational Technology Standards

1.  Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when necessary) efficiently and effectively.
5.  Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, Web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.
Lesson Objectives Upon completion of instruction, the students will have:
  1. Created dioramas of  plant and animal communities that include at least five living things.
  2. Written descriptions of the populations in the community and how they affect each other.
  3. Revised and proofread the written description using the "Writer's Checklist."
  4. Typed the edited description applying word processing skills introduced prior to this lesson and inserted digital pictures.
Assessment Students' work will be assessed using a rubric which outlines all criteria for the community project.
Technology to be Used Computers, digital camera
Other Materials Transparencies, instructions for diorama, boxes, construction paper, glue, scissors, tape, crayons, small name plates, string, rubric, disks, mounting paper, display boards
Procedural Activities
  1. Review what a community is and how populations affect each other in a community.  Also, review how organisms are classified as producers or consumers.
  2. Explain to students the instructions for a diorama.
  3. Show students the list of communities from which to choose.
  4. Create a Community Diorama.
  5. Explain directions for writing the paragraphs.
  6. Students write paragraphs.
  7. Proofread paragraphs.
  8. Students type paragraphs on computer.
  9. Add digital pictures to the paragraphs.
  10. Save paragraphs onto disk.
  11. Students share their dioramas and read their paragraphs aloud.

 

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