DINOSAUR EXPLORATION

Dinosaur Exploration

Author(s): Eric Knebel and Kyle Smith

Grade Level: 2nd grade

Timeframe: 1 week/1 hour per day

Lesson Description or Explanation

Students will work on a dinosaur unit for 1 week. Students will be allowed to visit a variety if websites that offer dinosaur information and educational dinosaur activities. By the end of the week students will be expected to have created a PowerPoint presentation on a selected dinosaur.

Indiana Curricular Standards

Science:
2.4.1- Observe and identify different external features of plants and animals and describe how these features help them live in different environments.
2.2.5 Draw pictures and write brief descriptions that correctly portray key features of an object.
2.6.2 Observe and explain that models may not be the same size, may be missing some details, or may not be able to do all of the same things as the real things.
Language Arts:
2.4.2 Organize related ideas together to maintain a consistent focus.
2.2.3 Use knowledge of the author’s purpose(s) to comprehend informational text.
2.2.5 Restate facts and details or summarize the main idea in the text to clarify and organize ideas.
2.4.5 Use a computer to draft, revise, and publish writing.
2.7.9 Report on a topic with supportive facts and details.

Math
2.1.11 Collect and record numerical data in systematic ways.

ISTE Standards

Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works
Technology research tools
Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

Assessments
Formative/Summative

Formative: Everyday we will do over the shoulder assessments. We will take time to stop and talk with each group and discuss their ideas and feelings. We will also make sure to give them lots of feedback on how we feel they are doing and where they need to go next.
Summative: The students will be expected to make a PowerPoint presentation over a selected dinosaur that they have researched all week in their groups. They will be expected to have different slides presenting the facts they have learned. The PowerPoint will be presented on a smart board.

Prior Knowledge

Use ELMO to make a group KWL chart.

Technology

Internet Resources: (please list URLs)
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/dinoeggs/
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/teachers.php
http://www.paleontology.esmartstudent.com/dinosaurs.html
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/dinosphere/index.html

Hardware:
Smart Board
Computers
Color Printer
Overhead Projector
ELMO

Software:
PowerPoint
Microsoft Word

Procedure

Day 1: Start by talking about dinosaur names and how scientist came up with the different names. Then split children into groups by dinosaur of their choice. They will be spit into 5 groups, so there will be 5 different stations set up. Each station will have a computer that has one of the internet resources brought up on it. Students will change stations every 30 minutes. So, on day one each group will make it to two different stations. At these stations they will type out notes on Microsoft word to use in their presentation.

Day 2: We will start with a mini lesson on dinosaur environments. Students will then split up into their groups and go to the two stations they did not go to on day 1. Students will be expected to continue to add to their notes or chart they are making on Microsoft word. Hopefully they will start to look into the environment their dinosaur lived in and connect the information to the mini lesson. To end day 2 we will do a group KWL chart using an ELMO. This will help the students see where they still need to research and show us the progress they are making.

Day 3: We will start the day go over the program PowerPoint. We will discuss the basic options the program offers and talk about how they could use it in their presentations. We will then give an example of a PowerPoint presentation we completed to help them start to have an idea of what they need to do. Students will then meet with their groups to start to put their presentations together. We will walk around and meet with groups and give suggestions and help with PowerPoint use.

Day 4: We will start by putting a blank rubric up on the overhead and work with students to fill in what we will be expecting from their presentations. This rubric will be what we use to grade the students, so when it is done they should know exactly how their presentation should go. This rubric will be left up on the screen while Students continue to work on PowerPoint presentations. Students will be given a chance to visit websites of their choice one more time to find any information they are missing for their presentation. Each group will meet with us for a short period to discuss what they have learned and what they still want to learn. This will be a time for us to assess how the activity is going and make sure that students will be ready to present the next day.

Day 5: This will be presentation day. This will probably take longer than the hour allotment, so other lessons throughout the day will be shortened. The groups will get up and give their presentation. After each presentation the audience will be allowed to ask questions and make comments. We will also ask some probing questions to lead the discussion a bit farther. The audience will be expected to take notes about each dinosaur and mark down questions they still have. After each presentation we will have the groups fill out the rubric so we can get an idea of how they feel they did.

Differentiated Instruction

ESL
We will use Google web translator to translate the WebPages into whatever language is best suitable for the student. This way each student will have the opportunity to explore the websites for information to use in the presentation.

Challenge/Extend

To extend this lesson we would have the groups move around and meet with each other to compare and contrast their dinosaurs. We could then use the ELMO to as a group make a Venn diagram to talk about what kinds of things were the same and what characteristics were different.

Special Needs

Windows XP and Vista offer so many great options for students with special needs. Depending on the need we hopefully will be able to find an option to fit this need. Some examples are text enlargers, text readers, and adaptive keyboard and mouse settings. If none of these seem to work I will meet with the schools special needs teachers to form a plan to help all of our students succeed.