Amber's+Lesson+Plans

Amber

Lesson 1
Science Standard K.6 focuses on student understanding that all living things have basic life needs and life processes. Upon completion, students will understand that plants change as they grow as well, as identify their needs while they grow. In addition, they will observe and investigate attributes of apples. K.1 The student will conduct investigations in which a) basic properties of objects are identified by direct observation; b) observations are made from multiple positions to achieve different perspectives; c) objects are described both pictorially and verbally; d) a set of objects is sequenced according to size; e) a set of objects is separated into two groups based on a single physical attribute; f) nonstandard units are used to measure common objects; g) a question is developed from one or more observations; i) an unseen member in a sequence of objects is predicted; and j) unusual or unexpected results in an activity are recognized. K.6 The student will investigate and understand basic needs and life processes of plants and animals. Key concepts include: a) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">living things change as they grow, and they need food, water, and air to survive; b) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">plants and animals live and die (go through a life cycle); and c) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">offspring of plants and animals are similar but not identical to their parents and to one another. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">K.8 The student will investigate and understand simple patterns in his/her daily life. Key concepts include a) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">weather observations; b) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">the shapes and forms of many common natural objects including seeds, cones, and leaves; c) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">animal and plant growth; and <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">K.9 The student will investigate and understand that change occurs over time and rates may be fast or slow. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Key concepts include: a) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">natural and human-made things may change over time; and b) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">changes can be noted and measured. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Language Arts <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 120%;">K.11 The student will write to communicate ideas. a) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Draw pictures and/or use letters and phonetically spelled words to write about experiences, stories, people, objects, or events. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">b) Write left to right and top to bottom ||
 * **<span style="color: #c00000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION FOR MEANINGFUL CLASSROOM USE ****<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Daily Lesson GAME Plan ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Lesson Title **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">: Life Cycle of a Plant || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Related Lessons: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Comprehension, Sequencing, Technology ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Grade Level **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">: Kindergarten || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Unit: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Science ||
 * **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">GOALS ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Content Standards **

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">for the problem(s) at hand,” (Ertmer, P., & Simons, K. 2006). || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">45 min. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">20-30 min. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">40 min. 20 min. 45 min. 50-60 min. || <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">In a whole group setting, students will re-read a plant life cycle book and review the information provided in the book. Students will discuss the characteristics of a plant, the essentials it needs to grow, in addition to the step-by-step process of its life cycle. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Students will visit the computer lab and use Kidspiration to create a life cycle of a plant diagram (concept mapping). They will use the keyboard to type small phrases of each step. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Using chart paper, we will write down the different types of plants that can be planted in the ground (vegetables and flowers). While we are making a list of the different things that can be planted I will guide them into only picking a certain plants that they can plant (due to costs). <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">As a class we will take a walk around the school and find the located area (in our Kindergarten garden) where we will plant our plants. While sitting in our garden area we will then discuss what we will need in order to plant a plant. These items will be waiting for them in our area (water, shovel, soil). We are ready to plant. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">(The following activities is to be completed over a series of days) We will take a tour around our garden area and observe our plants; water; or weed if necessary. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Students will visit the computer lab and use Kidpix to create illustrations of the process of their plant from our observations. I will guide them and instruct that their first illustration will contain just the roots as this is the first step however not visible in the ground. We will save the product and revisit when the observations are complete. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Once the plant has fully grown (or to its potential!) students will take their observations and draw a 4-square in their writing journal. Students will write about the life cycle of their plant using their pictures the created in the computer lab. With help from a volunteer, students will use the computer to voice record their sentence on Voicethread. The ending product will be shared with our class and posted on our class website for students to share with their families. || * __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Tiny Seed __<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> by Eric Carle
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">ISTE NETS-S ( **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">[])
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Creativity and Innovation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Communication and Collaboration
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Research and information fluency
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Digital Citizenship
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Instructional Objective(s): **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Students will understand the characteristics of a flower/plant (using their five senses) as well as understand the life cycle. In addition, students will be able to successfully complete a CFA (common formative assessment) about the plant and its life cycle. Students are to take ownership of their plant and be able to retain this information (as it can relate to other life processes). “Student-centered teaching approaches are not easy to implement in the classroom. If instructors do not have enough guidance or support, they can easily fall into the trap of thinking that just because these approaches are interesting and engaging, students are learning the things they need to learn,” (Ertmer, P., & Simons, K. 2006). ||
 * **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">ACTION ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Before- Class Preparation: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Students will read literature and review information about the life cycle. Items include plant characteristics, essentials to grow, and step by step growth observation; this will be done in a whole-group setting. Upon reviewing the information, students will receive step-by-step instructions about how to plant a plant and maintain it. A flow chart of the process will be displayed in the classroom for the students to refer, as well as oral instructions (step-by-step as a class). “Collaboration is a key component of PBL learning environments, as it allows students to draw on each other’s perspectives and talents in order to more effectively devise solutions
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">During Class ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Time ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Instructional Activities ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Materials and Resources ** ||
 * || <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; text-align: center;">Activities are conducted through a series of days ||  ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">10-15 min.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Computer
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Kidspiration
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Chart Paper
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Markers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Water buckets
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Shovels
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Plants
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Water buckets
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Shovels
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Plants
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Computer
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Kidpix
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Writing Journal
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Kidpix creation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Voicethread
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Internet ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Notes: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Volunteers will be readily able for planting, observations, work in the computer lab, and Voicethread recording. ||
 * **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">MONITOR ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Ongoing Assessment(s): **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Students will be observed throughout each activity based on their participation and creations. Students will be randomly called on to answer different questions about the plant life cycle, as well as their activities they are conducting – are they able to tell me why they are doing this particular project. Student collaboration is strongly encouraged and will monitor student interaction with one another – are they giving ideas or advice on their projects in the computer lab. In problem-based learning, the traditional teacher and student roles change. The students assume increasing responsibility for their learning, giving them more motivation and more feelings of accomplishment, setting the pattern for them to become successful life-long learners. The faculty in turn become resources, tutors, and evaluators, guiding the students in their problem solving efforts. (Levine)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Accommodations and Extensions: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Depending on the writing ability of the students, those students will have additional one-on-one support, either from the teacher or a classroom volunteer. Students with fine motor disabilities will be permitted to use the touch-screen monitor to help write their sentence on the computer.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Back-up Plan: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">If volunteers are not readily available, I will have my higher students assist my lower students during planting, computer, and writing. If the computers/creation programs are not available, students will be permitted to use paper, pencil, crayon/markers to illustrate their concept maps and life cycle process. Voice recording will be recording on a tape player. ||
 * **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">EVALUATION ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Lesson Reflections and Notes: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Participation is a big factor in their grade. A few observations that will be noted:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Do they understand the parts of a plant?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Do they understand the life cycle of a plant?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Are my students able to write about the process?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Is there appropriate spacing in their writing?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Does a sentence begin with a capital letter and end with punctuation? ||

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Reference

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Ertmer, P., & Simons, K. (2006). Jumping the PBL implementation hurdle: Supporting the efforts of K–12 teachers. //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning, 1 //(1), 40–54. Retrieved from @http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=ijpbl.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Levine, Adam. Maricopa Community Colleges. //Problem-Based Learning.// Retrieved July 31, 2011 from [].

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">NOTE: I tried formatting the layout many times. However the program would not save my edits which caused the //Instruction Activities// not to line up.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Amber:

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is great lesson for your kindergarteners. Your students will enjoy this whole process as they watch their plants grow. In your lesson you have the students creating their own life cycle on kidspiration. Will your students have previously worked on kidspiration making concepts maps and in addition when typing phrases will you provide the phrases and they pick the correct one out or do they do it on their own? I like the idea of using older students to assist you when you have no volunteers. I believe that students learn from their peers as well as from the teacher. Nice Job!

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lori

<span style="color: #ff00a5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Response to Lori: <span style="color: #ff00a5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">My kids do use Kidspiration throughout the year with the computer teacher. We do not studying plants until April/May so they are a bit familiar with the program. However, there is still a lot of guidance with their work. I may have to provide words for them and let them pick the word based on the beginning/middle/ending sounds (this is a skill we are working on all year) and place with the appropriate picture. I could also team up with our reading buddies class to help us with computer/taping. Thanks for the additional ideas! <span style="color: #ff00a5; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Amber

Lesson 2
//Under separate tap on left//

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom Use: A Standards-Based Approach
= <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Digital Story Telling - Daily Lesson GAME Plan =

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Science <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Standard K.6 focuses on student understanding that all living things have basic life needs and life processes. Upon completion, students will <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> understand that plants change as they grow as well, as identify their needs while they grow. In addition, they will observe and investigate <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> attributes of apples.
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Lesson Title: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> How does it grow? || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Related Lessons: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Comprehension, Sequencing, Technology ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Grade Level **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">: Kindergarten || **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Unit: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Science ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Goals  ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Content Standards: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> K.1 The student will conduct investigations in which <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> a) basic properties of objects are identified by direct observation; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> b) observations are made from multiple positions to achieve different perspectives; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> c) objects are described both pictorially and verbally; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> d) a set of objects is sequenced according to size; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> e) a set of objects is separated into two groups based on a single physical attribute; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> f) nonstandard units are used to measure common objects; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> g) a question is developed from one or more observations; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> i) an unseen member in a sequence of objects is predicted; and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> j) unusual or unexpected results in an activity are recognized.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">K.6 The student will investigate and understand basic needs and life processes of plants and animals. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Key concepts include: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> a) living things change as they grow, and they need food, water, and air to survive; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> b) plants and animals live and die (go through a life cycle); and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> c) offspring of plants and animals are similar but not identical to their parents and to one another.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">K.8 The student will investigate and understand simple patterns in his/her daily life. Key concepts include <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> a) weather observations; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> b) the shapes and forms of many common natural objects including seeds, cones, and leaves; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> c) animal and plant growth; and

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">K.9 The student will investigate and understand that change occurs over time and rates may be fast or slow <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Key concepts include: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> a) natural and human-made things may change over time; and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> b) changes can be noted and measured.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Language Arts <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> K.11 The student will write to communicate ideas <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> a) Draw pictures and/or use letters and phonetically spelled words to write about experiences, stories, people, objects, or events. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> b) Write left to right and top to bottom

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Students will understand the characteristics of a flower/plant (using their five senses) as well as understand the life cycle. In addition, the student will be able to work together in a collaborative setting with partners as well as a whole group setting to determine the best way to demonstrate their understanding of the life process.Students will take the information retrieved from books and internet, compile ideas about how to portray the information, and create a digital story-telling video about the plant life cycle using themselves as props. Digital story-telling is “a short, first person video-narrative created by combining recorded voice, still and moving images, and music or other sounds,” (Center for Digital Storytelling). Sadik (2008) conducted a research study on digital storytelling as an integrated approach for engaged student learning. The results of the study showed that the digital story projects implemented by Egyptian teachers supported students' understanding of specific content in an academic course. Daniel Meadows (2011) likes to describe digital story-telling as “short, personal multimedia tales told from the heart." While there are still some restrictions when you are working on a story at school, it is a way for individuals or groups to express themselves within their learning process, and share what they learned – sometimes in their own way.
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">ISTE NETS-S **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Creativity and innovation
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Communication and collaboration
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Research and information fluency || * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Critical thinking, problem-solving, & decision-making
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Digital citizenship
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Technology operations and concepts ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Instructional objective(s): **

||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Action  ||
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Before-class preparation: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Gather materials for props (sunglasses, construction paper, markers, glue, scissors)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Charge Video Camera/Camera
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Make sure my video editing program is working ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">During class
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Time || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Instructional Activities || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Materials & Resources ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">10-15 min.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">40 min.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">40 min.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">30 min || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">In a whole group setting, students will re-read a plant life cycle book and review the information provided in the book. Students will discuss the characteristics of a plant, the essentials it needs to grow, in addition to the step-by-step process of its life cycle.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">As a class we will chart the life cycle and chunk the information into “scenes”. After mapping out each scene, students will then be grouped (based on behavior and academic levels) to practice.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Students will practice their role within the scenes and practice putting it all together.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Teacher will video tape as the students demonstrate their learning through play and acting. || __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Life Cycle of a Flower __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> by Molly Aloain and Bobby Kalman

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Chart Paper <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Markers

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Props

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Props <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Video Camera/Camera || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Notes: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">During most of the activities throughout each lesson, students will be working whole group with my help. When we break out into small groups for the taping, students will be placed in groups based on their behavior and academic levels. This will ensure a cohesive learning environment for all. All students, special needs or not, will receive guided instruction with questioning. || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Monitor <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Lesson reflections and notes: **Lesson reflections and notes:** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Participation is a big factor in their grade. A few observations that will be noted:
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ongoing assessment(s): **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Assessments will be based on student participation and ability to answer questions through the lesson. Do they understand their role in their group? Why is their group important to the apple’s life process? Are they able to internalize information that has been found via books and internet?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Accommodations and extensions: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Students will not be working on an individual basis, so no additional assistance is needed. I will however use classroom management and redirection to assist those who have difficulty staying on task/paying attention.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Backup plan: **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> I will have two cameras ready to use in the event that one does not work.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Evaluate and Extend  ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Do they understand the parts of a plant?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Do they understand the life cycle of a plant?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to successfully complete an apple CFA (common formative assessment). This CFA is will be a multiple-choice question based test and will be read to all students. In addition, students will successfully be able to create a digital-story telling the story of the life cycle of an apple. Assessments on the story-telling project will be based on participation and ability to assess their role in the film.


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> References  ||

The Center for Digital Storytelling__. __Retrieved August 10, 2011 from: @http://www.storycenter.org/index1.html. McNeil, S., Robin, B., Yuksel, P (2011).//Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling Around the World.// Retrieved August 8, 2011 from: [] University of Houston: The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling located at @http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/