Science Challenge Preview

For this unit, we will be studying different animals. The ultimate goal will be for the students to be able to determine between reptiles, mammals, and carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. During the week, each day we will study one of the above categories. On Friday, after we have learned about omnivores, is when we will use a technology-enhanced activity as a cumulative review of what we have learned throughout the week. I will have my class log onto kidsperation in the computer lab. They will click on the science section and then go to the activity to write about animals. From that section, they will identify the following animals from the left side of the screen: dog, dolphin, tiger, rabbit, bear, and lizard. After they click on each animal, a screen will pop up that allows them to type facts about that animal. On the board I will write the words reptile, mammal, carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore. I will also have a bank of words on the board for them to copy with descriptive words such as plants, meat, berries, jungle, woods, etc. These words will be used to describe the eating habits, habitats, and characteristics of these animals. After the students locate each of the animals from the list on the left, they will practice their typing skills to write in the information about them, labeling and describing them correctly from what we have studied all week..During this activity, I will be walking around, supervising their progress, reminding them of the words, and answering questions.

a) The content my lesson is focused on comes from Standard 3, Objective 2a) Observe, describe, draw, and compare familiar animals. This comes from the Utah state science core.

b) The teaching pedagogies being used are observing, classifying, and processing data through describing relationships (comparisons). I will observing the students as they are working on the labeling activity. This is significant because I am letting it do it on their own without interfering, unless I need to. The students will be classifying the animals based on the material that we have studied all week. They will be processing data through comparing the animals to discriminate between the various categories they are trying to identify.

c)The technology I will be using is kidsperation. This is a great fit for my class because it especially is friendly for young grades, and mine is kindergarten. It allows the students to identify through pictures of the animals and is an easy way to introduce typing skills.

d) This material is represented through kidsperation in a way that is going to make is very easy for the students to do and complete. It is going to make this activity easier for the students to understand because it uses pictures. These pictures will help the students make connections between the present activity and the pictures that they were shown throughout the weekly lessons. When they make that connection, it will be easier for them to remember the information and proper label that should be given to the animal.