Mammals, Mammals, Everywhere

Subject Area(s):

• K-12: Technology
• K-12: Science
• K-12: Language Arts

Grade Level(s):

• 3rd-4th Grade

Description:

The SLMS and a 3rd grade classroom teacher will collaborate on a mammal unit for science. There will be several cumulative lessons in the unit. This lesson will serve as a way to show students that there are web resources as well as print materials for information gathering. Students will be beginning an animal report by choosing a mammal and filling in a concept map for their animal. They will work with the classroom teacher to consult a non-fiction trade book on their particular animal. The books used will be at the students' independent reading level and they will use them to fill in the "physical description" portion of their concept map as well as their animal's diet. Then students will come to the library computer lab to complete the "habitat" portion of their concept map. We will first brainstorm what we need to know about an animal's habitat (climate, location, how many places they are found, etc.) They will use a previously evaluated website, National Geographic Kids, to find information on habitat for their mammal.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

• 3rd grade students will use a web source to successfully describe the habitat of the mammal that they are researching.

Learning Objectives:

• 3rd grade students will be able to define the term “habitat”.
• Third grade students will be able to brainstorm at least ten characteristics of habitats.
• Students will be able to follow directions to access National Geographic Kids.
  
• Students will be able to locate needed information and filter out irrelevant information.
• Students will be able to use the information gathered to complete the “habitat” portion of their concept map.

Motivational Goals:

• Create enthusiasm for using web sources to locate information on a topic of choice.

Materials:

See supporting files for complete lesson plan.

[Graphic organizer is not provided in supporting files.]

Procedures:

See supporting files for complete lesson plan.

Assessment:

See supporting files for complete lesson plan.

Supporting Files:

• Mammals_Mammals_Everywhere_LP.doc
  Complete motivational lesson plan

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.

• Shares knowledge and information with others.
• Collaborates with others, both in person and through technologies, to identify information problems and to seek their solutions.

Information Skills and Subskills (K-16)

Definition

• Identifies requirements of research task
• Determines amount/type of information needed to complete research task

Selection

• Specifies subtopics or related keywords

Collection

• Locates relevant information within selected sources
• Identifies and extracts relevant information from selected sources
• Stores information for potential future use

Organization

• Filters out irrelevant information
• Organizes final information for presentation

Presentation

• Presents results

Evaluation

• Evaluates end product
• Subject: K-12: Language Arts

National Content Standards (K-12)

Writing

• Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process
• Gathers and uses information for research purposes

Reading

• Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts

Listening and Speaking

• Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes
• Subject: K-12: Science

Nature of Science

• Understands the nature of scientific knowledge
• Understands the nature of scientific inquiry
• Subject: K-12: Technology
• Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and operating systems