Student+Centered+Lesson+onLiving+and+Non-Living+Things

Isaac Clark 01/24/2011 Integrating Technology into the Classroom Instructor: Nancy Fitzgerald


 * Objectives: ** Students will learn to differentiate between living things, non-living things and once living things by using a KWL chart and T-Chart, A Web, and a Venn Diagram.


 * Probelm:** How can we organize the data that we collect?

All three groups will have the same objective. The three groups will use different types of graphic organizers to organize the data they collect.

I will break my class up into 3 flexible groups of learners based on academic abilities. The three groups are the **Strega Nona Group**, **The Hungry Caterpillar Group**, and **the Big Anthony Group**.
 * The Strega Nona Group**- This group consists of emerging readers who need a lot of extra support. I frequently modify the assignments and the instruction to meet the academic needs of the group. This group usually responds best to tactile types of instruction. This Group is below grade level.


 * The Hungry Caterpillars**- This group consists of readers that are near, on, or slightly above readers. This group usually requires a small amount of extra guidance at the beginning of an activity, but once they get started they usually require minimal support. This group is extremely diverse. It consists of students that respond multiple modalities of learning. This group is on or near grade level.


 * The Big Anthony Group**- This group consists of readers that are all accelerated readers. This group usually requires very little additional support beyond the initial instructions. I frequently modify the assignment to make it more challenging for this group. This group usually responds best to auditory instruction. This group is signifigantly above grade level.

**Instructional strategies:** -I will start the lesson by reading the objective and asking the students if they have any questions. All three groups have the same objective, to learn the difference between Living and Nonliving things. The Big ANthong group will also incorporate Once living things into their lesson and data sorting activity.

-I will read the book Living and Nonliving by Carol K. Lindeen as a motivator. We will use a KWL chart as a follow up activity to the book.
 * Motivation: **

-I will start the lesson by introducing the three terms: Living, Non-Living , and Once Living. -The students will work together demonstrating their prior knowledge by completing a KWL chart. Informing me of what they know, Want to know, and we will return at the end of the lesson to complete the Learned portion of the KWL chart. -After the class has completed the Know and Want to Know sections of the KWL Chart, I will break the class into groups of 4-5 students. Each group will have a Recorder, Collector (holds the Bag), and a Speaker(The student who will share the groups findings). -The class will then be give a gloves, a journal, and a pencil, and the instructions for the Living and Non-Living Exploration. -The class will spend 15-20 minutes searching for Living and Non Living things outside and recording their findings. -The students would return to the classroom where the students would work in groups to organize their data.
 * Lesson: **
 * Student activities Before Computer Use: **

The three groups will go to a computer and use the favorites tab to search the listed websites to continue their Living and Non Living Hunts. Each group will need to find 5 living and 5 non living things. -Each group will then gop to their assigned web page wich will be listed under the favorites tab.
 * During Computer Activity: **


 * The Strega Nona Group**- Will use a Venn Diagram to sort their data into three groups (Living, Non-Living, and Once Living). “I want you to return to the computer as a group and find 5 things that would belong in the center of the Venn Diagram under Once Living.


 * The Hungry Caterpillars**-Will use a web to organize the data they collected.


 * The Big Anthony Group**-Will complete a Living and Non-Living T-Chart at a Computer Station.

- After the Groups have completed the T-Chart and saved it to their folder they could play the Sort Living and Non-Living Game online at the site listed below. [|__http://www.firstschoolyears.com/science/resources/games/ourselves/living/living.htm__]


 * After Computer Use Activity: **

-When all of the groups had finished their T-Charts the class would gather as a whole to display and explain their completed T-Charts, Venn Diagrams, and Webs. -After the class has presented their graphic organizers we will have a class discussion. -I would facilitate the discussion with questions like: -“What problems did you run into in your Hunt for Living and Non-Living Things?” -“Was it easier or more difficult using the computer to find living and non-Living things?” -”What is a Once Living Thing?” -”What are some examples of Once Living Things?” -”What did you find more of, Living or Non-Living things?” -”Why do you think you found more Living or Non-Living things?” -”What do all Living Things need?” -Ask the students if they have any questions. -The class will finish the discussion by completing the Learned (L) portion of the KWL chart and revisit (W) what we wanted to learn portion of the chart.


 * Computer Functions: ** The computers will be used to obtain data, sort the data using online graphic organizers, to play a follow up T-Chart sorting Game, and displaying the KWL Chart on the Smartboard.

-Gloves -Computers -T-Chart -KWL Chart http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/kwl.pdf -Smart Board -Living and Nonliving by Carol K. Lindeen -Online Sorting Game:
 * Materials **

[|__http://www.firstschoolyears.com/science/resources/games/ourselves/living/living.htm__] Assessments -Teacher Observation and Discussion -KWL Chart -T-Chart - Sorting of Living and Non-Living Things Program



Firstschoolyears.com (2006). Sort the pictures into living and non-living things. Retrieved from [|__http://www.firstschoolyears.com/science/resources/games/ourselves/living/living.htm__] TeacherVision.com (2000). Living and Non-Living Things T-Chart. Retrieved from [|__http://www.teachervision.fen.com/childrens-science-activities/printable/31997.html__]
 * Resources **

Carol K. Lindeen (2008). Living and Nonliving. Mankato, Minnesota. Coughlan Publishing Co.