Theme Animals- Lesson 1

Level Grade 4

Essential Question How do we classify and sort animals?

Objectives Students will sort animals into appropriate classifications in the Animal Kingdom.

Learning Standards

Standard 5.6:
All Students Will Gain An Understanding Of The Structure, Characteristics, And Basic Needs Of Organisms

Standard 5.7:
All Students Will Investigate The Diversity Of Life

Time one- two hours

Procedure

1. Students will watch a short video (Eyewitness or National Geographic) on animals as a motivation to the unit. Complete K-W-L chart on animals.

2. Each group of students will be given various pictures of animals in which they will be asked to group together according to their similarities.

3. Review students’ classifications and reasoning.

4. Assign each group of 2-3 students an animal group that they will be responsible for. They will be known as the expert for that group.

5. Students will use the following website to gather information.

http://kidport.com/RefLib/Science/Animals/Animals.htm

6. Students will present findings as I use the data projector to show their animal group from that web site. The class will ask questions and together the group and I will post notes on the chalkboard for the class to copy.

7. After presentations are complete, students will complete "Animal Antics" activity, (AIMS Education Foundation, 1989) to show understanding of animal kingdom. During this activity students use their knowledge to group animals in correct classification groups to gain points. The group with the highest number of points wins. A points system is established to assess and give grades.

8. Students will complete Quia quiz on the Internet. http://www.quia.com/tq/238378.html

Materials

Animal video, computer lab with Internet, data projector, Critters book from the AIMS Education Foundation 1989