•   Unit Topic or Theme: Classification of Animals around the World

•   Grade: 4th

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•   Lesson Topic or Theme: African Wildlife

•   Lesson Objectives:

-       Students will be able to answer 7/7 questions on the interactive website correctly.

-       At the zoo, students will be able to provide 3 correct characteristics/facts about each of the 7 animals identified on their worksheet.

•   Instructional Technique:

-       Video/Introduction to African safari animals: whole group

-       Interactive website: Individually

         -   Zoo Worksheet: Groups of 4-5

•   Instructional Materials:

-       Large pictures of different African animals

-       Computers

-       Pencils

-       Field trip worksheet

-       Clipboards

•   Theoretical Perspective: It is important for students to understand about different countries in the world aside from the one that they come from. By having students learn about other countries, they are able to compare and contrast between the United States and different places throughout the world. It also promotes the use of multiculturalism in the classroom and gives the students the ability to accept other cultures, while being able to share their own.

•   Procedure:

A.   Introductory Activity (if applicable)

-       During morning meeting we will be introducing the African Safari animals that the students will be learning about. (Elephant, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Rhinoceros, Zebra, Lion, and Crocodile)

-       As a class we will make a list of features that each animal possesses. If a student thinks they know an interesting fact about any of the animals they may share it with the class.

-       After morning meeting students will remain on the rug to watch a short video on these African animals that we have discussed along with a few other interesting aspects of the African culture.

B. Step-by-step (descriptive outline)

- After lunch students will line up at the door and walk down the hall to the computer lab.

- Each student will need their own computer and will immediately enter the website that they will be using. The website will be written on the white board for each student to be able to access it.

- Click on “Let’s Begin” to start the quiz
- The student will read the description of each animal and based on what they have read choose the correct answer.

- If the student gets the answer correct, they will be brought to the next question. When a question is answered correctly, the student has the opportunity to click a link to learn more about that animal, if interested. If the student answers the question incorrectly, they will be asked to go back and try again.

- When the student correctly answers 7 out of 7 questions, they will be brought to a finished page that indicates they have passed the quiz.

- To show that they have completed the quiz, each student must print out a copy of the page saying that they have successfully completed the quiz. They will put their name on it and hand it in.

-If finished before the rest of the class, students may browse the websites about each animal given on the quiz or read a book from the book bin.

C. Closure

- To close out this unit, students will be taking a field trip to a local zoo. 

- In groups of 4 to 5 students will walk around the zoo learning more about animals we have already talked about in class, and discovering new animals.

- Each student will have a worksheet they must fill out about each of the animals we have learned about in class.

- There will be seven animals on the worksheet. Each animal requires the student to write three characteristics and/or facts about it.

- The students will also be given the opportunity to write down other animals they saw at the zoo and one fact about that animal, for extra credit.

D. Adaptations for different learners (i.e. non-native speakers, struggling readers or math phobic learners, students with poor study skills)

- Struggling writers: Students that struggle with writing may choose to meet with me after the field trip and orally give the facts and/or characteristics that they learned about each animal.

- Struggling readers: For the website portion of the lesson, if a student is having trouble reading and/or comprehending the material they may be given time with the teacher to go over the website together.

•   Evaluation:

A.   How/ when will you determine if you have met your objectives?

-       Students will be able to answer 7/7 questions on the interactive website correctly.

·      Each student is required to print out a sheet when they are finished, saying that they completed the quiz.

-       At the zoo, students will be able to provide 3 correct characteristics/facts about each of the 7 animals identified on their worksheet.

·      Students will be handing in their worksheets after the zoo field trip. We will be able to see what students have learned about the animals and their ability to make observations.

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