Choice
I chose a student-centered strategy to help students with retention and interest of material for the third objective.
Description
Students will be using two or more sources (books, internet, etc.) to write about the specialization of one group of plants and/or animals in a wetland. Each student will create a short story or poem on a specific role that a plant or animal plays in a wetland community. They will use all of the information and multiple sources gathered so far. The story or poem can be real or imagined and needs to include the name of the plant or animal and the role it plays in a wetland for full points. This will be a summative assessment for this lesson.
Students will be visiting a website. The content necessary for students to complete this objective has already been taught, so the strategy that I have included is a way for them to retain information that they have already learned. This will also be a way to keep students interested while finishing up with this lesson. This website can be found at: www.mbgnet.net/fresh/wetlands/index.htm.
Students will be visiting a website. The content necessary for students to complete this objective has already been taught, so the strategy that I have included is a way for them to retain information that they have already learned. This will also be a way to keep students interested while finishing up with this lesson. This website can be found at: www.mbgnet.net/fresh/wetlands/index.htm.
Technology
There will be a cart full of computers available for students to use for this strategy. To help facilitate meaningful learning, each student will have access to their own computer so they can each get the full benefit from navigating this website. I will model how to get on the computers (for those students who might still be unsure) and get to the website. While exploring the website, students will find information on the importance of wetlands, what they are, wetlands in danger, specific wetlands around the world with virtual tours, and a slide show that gives a lot of information about different animals, including pictures and where they are found on a map.
Rationale
I chose to use this website because the information presented on wetlands is accurate and credible. The MBGnet project began in the mid-nineties and was published in 2004 when Missouri Botanical Garden gained ownership from Evergreen Project. Their newest addition is a plant video series for grades K-3. This website has won the following awards: Scientific America: 2004 Science and Technology Web Awards, SciLinks Selected by Science Educators from NSTA, and Surfing the Net with Kids.
I also chose this resource because it is an engaging and interactive way for students to learn new material and retain information already learned. It is a great source for objective 3 when students write about a specialization of plants or animals. It helps students achieve the science, technology, and writing standards for this lesson as well. Also, my group of learners are in the process of moving out of the pre-operational stage and into the concrete operational stage, so this strategy will work well for them. It will be a fun and engaging way for them to retain information, since they are highly motivated to learn and perform well (for the most part). My third grade learners are in the process of developing long attention spans so I know, for the most part, they will be able to work on this task for around 25 minutes.
I also chose this resource because it is an engaging and interactive way for students to learn new material and retain information already learned. It is a great source for objective 3 when students write about a specialization of plants or animals. It helps students achieve the science, technology, and writing standards for this lesson as well. Also, my group of learners are in the process of moving out of the pre-operational stage and into the concrete operational stage, so this strategy will work well for them. It will be a fun and engaging way for them to retain information, since they are highly motivated to learn and perform well (for the most part). My third grade learners are in the process of developing long attention spans so I know, for the most part, they will be able to work on this task for around 25 minutes.