Theme Animals

Level Grade 4

Essential Question How can we help endangered animals?

Objectives

Students will research and collect multimedia resources on endangered animals.

Students will write an effective and persuasive letter supporting endangered animals.

Learning Standards

Standard 3.3:
All Students Will Write In Clear, Concise, Organized Language That Varies In Content And Form For Different Audiences And Purposes.

Standard 5.7:
All Students Will Investigate The Diversity Of Life

Time one week

Procedure

1. Read Animals in Danger by Janine Amos. (In Steck Vaugh Think-a-long books)

2. Make a chart of the reasons and causes of how animals become endangered.

3. Watch video on New Jersey Endangered Species by NJN.

4. Brainstorm ideas on how to make a difference in this cause.

5. Explain that students will e-mail a persuasive letter to an organization.

6. If students are have no experience writing persuasively, a few lessons will be needed to teach.

7. Students will use multimedia resources on the computer and Internet to collect information on the endangered animal of their choice.

8. After the data is collected, students will compose a persuasive e-mail to the respected parties. Discuss criteria expected to found in e-mails. The following endangered animal links will be available:

http://www.kidsplanet.org/defendit/new/writeit.html ****

http://eelink.net/EndSpp/organizations-stateandregional.html

http://www.kidinfo.com/Science/Endangered_animals.html

 9. Students will be assessed with a rubric created at Rubistar4teachers.org http://rubistar.4teachers.org/view_rubric.php3?id=227176

Materials Animals in Danger by Janine Amos, NJN video, computers with research software and Internet