OCEAN HABITATS

by Lisa Joy Spooner Conoly

Developed using the TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING CONTINUUM MODEL

List the objectives that support chosen learning standard goals and call for learners to gain information.

List the instructional strategies that might be used to accomplish the objectives.

List technology resources that might be used to accomplish the objectives.

Create & describe learning activities that incorporate identified instructional strategies and available technology resources in a way that allows the learner to accomplish objectives.

Think about creative forms of assessment, list some possibilities, match assessments with objectives.

Georgia QCC Learning Standards

Objectives

Subject: 

3rd Grade

Strand/Course:

Science

Topic: 

Ocean Habitats

 

Standard:

LESSON #1

Science

 

Topic: Inquiry, Process Skills, and Problem Solving  

Standard: Asks questions, makes inferences and predictions, uses estimation and measurement, uses evidence to construct explanations, makes sketches and diagrams to explain ideas, organizes data into tables and charts for interpretation, reads and interprets various types of graphs, formulates simple hypotheses, identifies and controls a limited number of variables, and designs a simple experiment.

 

Topic: Reference Skills

Standard: Uses encyclopedias, science reference magazines, books and other media to obtain information related to science concepts.

 

LESSON #2

Science

 

Topic: Science Inquiry, Process Skills and Problem Solving  

Standard: Asks questions, classifies objects and events, communicates with others, makes inferences and predictions, uses estimation and measurement, uses evidence to construct explanations, makes sketches and diagrams to explain ideas, and organizes data into tables and charts to interpret and formulate simple hypotheses. 

 

Topic: Activities/Tools

Standard: Actively engages in the learning process via hands-on/minds-on science activities and experiences. Uses appropriate tools to collect and analyze data and solve problems. 

 

Language

Topic: Listening/Speaking Standard: Increases vocabulary to reflect a growing range of interests and knowledge.  

 

Topic: Reading Standard: Demonstrates an understanding of semantic relationships by using context clues, word meanings, and prior knowledge in reading.
(Semantics - "Does it make sense?")
 

Standard: Draws conclusions, makes predictions, compares-contrasts, and makes generalizations.  

 

Topic: WritingStandard: Uses examples from literature to create individual and group stories.  

Standard: Writes a short paragraph about a topic.

Standard: Uses available technology to assist in writing. 

Topic: Reference/Study

Standard: Uses various sources (e.g., periodicals, audiovisuals, software, encyclopedias) for information.

Standard: Skims material to locate specific information.   

   

 

 

LESSON #3

Topic: Inquiry, Process Skills, and Problem Solving Standard: Asks questions, makes inferences and predictions, uses estimation          and measurement, uses evidence to construct explanations, makes sketches and diagrams to explain ideas, organizes data into tables and charts for interpretation, reads and interprets various types of graphs, formulates simple hypotheses, identifies and controls a limited number of variables, and designs a simple experiment.

Topic: Reference Skills         Standard: Uses encyclopedias, science reference magazines, books, and other media to obtain information related to science concepts. Topic: Listening/Speaking Standard: Listens and responds to a variety of literary forms. Topic: Activities/Tools Standard: Actively engages in the learning process via hands-on/minds-on science activities and experiences. Uses appropriate tools to collect and analyze data and solve problems.  

 

Declarative:

The students will use the identified Internet site to explore the Monterey Bay Aquarium 3-D views. The students will ask and answer questions, make predictions and look for information and explanations to answer their questions and predictions using the website.

The teacher will introduce the activity to the students and provide an overview of the aquarium. The teacher will provide prompts and ask questions to initiate discussion if necessary.

A KWL chart will be established for the unit.  

Students are to complete their projects within the time frame identified by the teacher at the beginning of the project. Reminders of due dates are important for monitoring progress of the students and preparation of presentations.

LESSON 1

Presentation  Discussion 

LESSON 2

Discussion

LESSON 3

Discussion

Cooperative Learning

Discovery

 

This location requires the Cortona browser plug-in, a free download.

Equipment needed includes a television (27” or larger preferred), a computer with Internet access, and a television-computer connection.

Inspiration software.

One computer is all that is necessary. If more than one is available with Internet access, students may explore the site after the introductory activity.

This is an activity to be completed in the school site.

Lesson #2

Equipment needed: an Internet-accessed computer for each whole class instruction and each cooperative group, note-taking materials, materials needed for creation of kelp forest (art supplies, word processing program, etc.), word-processing for report, and materials for creation of a kelp frond simulation.

Lesson #3

Equipment needed: an Internet-accessed computer for each cooperative group, note-taking materials, materials needed for creation of diorama (art supplies, word processing program, etc.)

LESSON 1 This will be a technology-enhanced learning environment. The students will be introduced to the unit, “Ocean Habitats,” through an Internet program broadcasted through the classroom television.

The Internet location is: http://web.nps.navy.mil/~brutzman/kelp/

LESSON 2  is a technology-enhanced learning environment. Students will use website to explore a kelp forest as an introduction to the ocean’s ecosystems. Students will keep a journal, recreate a kelp forest, give an oral presentation, and make a kelp frond simulation.

Internet Location: http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/pbelem/kelp/index/html

LESSON 3 is a technology-based learning environment. Students will use computers and cooperative groups to identify a selected ocean habitat from the website and explore this habitat to identify components that make it different and unique (animal life, plant life, location in ocean, special features of the habitat). Students can explore the available information; the live camera activity exploring the aquarium exhibits on-line. The cooperative groups will create a life-sized diorama and a report/presentation on their selected habitat using this information. This activity is planned to cover a minimum of three days and a maximum of five days.

 Internet Location: http://www.mbayaq.org/lc/kids_place/kidseq_equarium.asp

 

LESSON 1

The assessment will be the documentation of information recorded on the chart and in the Inspiration web. This will allow the teacher to understand where the students are in their understanding of ocean habitats. It will provide knowledge of content to be introduced, expanded, or modified in the future activities and lessons.

LESSON 2

Completion of and participation in all activities and scoring on rubrics will provide the assessment.

LESSON 3

The students will be assessed using a rubric designed for the project and including the components of the projects as identified at the beginning of the project. Students will have a reference to this as they work on their project as a guide. Each item on the rubric will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5. Students’ project will be discussed and an oral and written assessment following the presentations.

LESSON #1 Initiating Activity

The activity planned is an initiating activity for the study of Ocean Habitats. The students will be asked to identify what they think will be found in an ocean habitat. As students brainstorm, a list will be compiled on a blank chart. These items are then sorted into categories and webbed using Inspiration. The students will provide information for a KWL chart indicating what they know about Ocean Habitats, followed by what they would like to learn about the topic. The students will then be presented with the Internet site via a television set. As the Monterey Aquarium is explored, the students will be able to see plant and animal life found in the habitat. This will allow for questions and predictions to develop and thus added to the KWL chart. Additional information may also be added to the web. If available, students may explore the website on computers stationed in the classroom. This activity will lead an in-depth study of the various ocean habitats.

 Developing the Assessment

 The assessment will be the documentation of information recorded on the chart and in the Inspiration web. This will allow the teacher to understand where the students are in their understanding of ocean habitats. It will provide knowledge of content to be introduced, expanded, or modified in the future activities and lessons.   

 

LESSON #2 Guided Learning Activity

Students for my class would work in pairs; others may need to work in groups of three or more. The activities will take four to five days to complete.

Activity 1-“Diving Through the Kelp Forest.” Students will answer questions listed on an activity assignment sheet. The questions will be answered in a journal designed for this project. Written information and illustrations are required. Upon completion of this assignment, students will come together as a whole group and share their findings. A rubric will be used to assess the students’ work.

Activity 2 – “Recreating a Kelp Forest.” Using activity one’s journal, the students will create kelp fronds and an animal that is found in one of the zones of the kelp forest. A rubric will be used to evaluate the work of each student.

Activity 3 – “Oral Presentations.” Students will prepare reports with their partner explaining what they have learned about the kelp forest.

Activity 4-“Design a Kelp Frond.” Students will design a kelp frond that can live in a kelp forest. Guidelines will be provided for the activity. Entries will be made in the students’ journal to share the design with the class.  Materials will be provided. A rubric will be used for evaluation.

Discussion- The teacher will discuss the requirements for each activity and the procedures and assessment methods to be used for the projects.

            Procedural- each student will receive an activity sheet for each of the four activities.

Develop the Learning Activity

            The website has done a wonderful job of preparing the activities for the teacher. Materials for the activities are listed, rubrics are provided, and requirements for each activity are given under each activity heading. Books for additional references have also been provided.

 Assessment

           Completion of and participation in all activities and scoring on rubrics will provide the assessment.

 

LESSON #3 Initiating and Guided Learning

The students are introduced to eight ecosystems of the ocean, first through a list on the board, then through drawing an ecosystem for their cooperative group, and finally through connection to the web site. The ecosystems are: kelp forest, reefs and pilings, sandy seafloor, estuaries and sloughs, rocky shores, beaches and dunes, deep sea, and open waters. (For my class students are paired: larger groups can work with three students.) The teacher is to provide a list of requirements, perhaps in rebus form, identifying the format of the assignment and what is to be included in the diorama and report. An example of a final project would be helpful.

 Develop the Learning Activity

Discovery: Students will enter the location for their ecosystem on the website. They will use a handout provided by the teacher as a guide in locating information for their report and diorama. 

Cooperative Learning: Students will work together to develop a report and design a diorama for their report. This work can be completed solely at school or as homework, too.

Discussion: Students may discuss work with their partner, or other groups, or the teacher, what they are planning to do for their project, any problems or concerns or questions they may have as they work on their ecosystem. Other websites may be identified during this work time.

Procedural: Students are to complete their projects within the time frame identified by the teacher at the beginning of the project. Reminders of due dates are important for monitoring progress of the students and preparation of presentations.

Developing the Assessment

The students will be assessed using a rubric designed for the project and including the components of the projects as identified at the beginning of the project. Students will have a reference to this as they work on their project as a guide. Each item on the rubric will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5. Students’ project will be discussed and an oral and written assessment following the presentations. 

 

 

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