KathrynDunning
Introduction
Standards
Objectives
Activities
Assessment
Results
Resources
Introduction
This Lesson will integrate students' first hand experience from a field trip to Monterey Bay and encyclopedia and internet research to produce a research report and Power Point presentation.
Subject: Science/Language/Technology
Topic: Ocean Animal Report
Grade Level: Sixth
Student Lesson name and URL:
http://ctap295.ctaponline.org/~kdunning/student
Standards Addressed
Sixth Grade
Science: 
Investigation and Experimentation
7.  Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.  As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations.  Students will:
b.  Use a variety of print and electronic resources (including the World Wide Web) to collect information and evidence as part of a research project.


Language Arts:
2.0  Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)

2.3 Write research reports:
a.  Pose relevant questions with a scope narrow enough to be thoroughly covered.
b.  Support the main idea or ideas with facts, details, examples, and explanations from multiple authoritative sources (e.g., speakers, periodicals, online information searches).
c.  Include a bibliography.

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Instructional Objectives
  1. After selecting an animal that lives in the Monterey Bay, students will research and organize information  to prepare a written report and Power Point presentation.
  2. Students will become familiar with terminology used to describe these animals.
  3. Students will gather information from a variety of sources (at least 4) including first hand information obtained on a field trip to the Monterey Bay and encyclopedia and internet research.
  4. Students will be able to organize information on note cards.
  5. Students will be able to outline the information to be included in the report.
  6. Students will be able to write, edit and revise a report that includes an introductory paragraph, four body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph using correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.
  7. Students will be able to cite resources used in a complete Bibliography.
  8. Students will be able to create and present a Power Point presentation of the material about the animal they have selected.

    9.   


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Student Activities

Introductory Activity

  • Show film of  Ocean life.
  • Discuss future field trip to Monterey.
  • Visit website of Monterey Bay Animals.
  • Handout copies of "Field Guide" copied from the Sea Searcher's Handbook,a resource from Monterey Bay Aquarium and discuss these animals that live in the Monterey Bay area. 
  • Tell students that they are going to become experts on one of these animals, write a brief report and create a Power Point presentation to show to the class.
  • Have students take Research and Report Writing Quiz at Fun Brain.
Enabling Activities

    1)Select Topic

  • Have students select three animals that interest them and that they would like to learn more about. 
  • Assign notes for each of the three animals from information in their "Field Guides." 
  • Notes are written on 3 index cards.
  • Students turn in cards in order (first, second, third) of their preference for animal to do report on.
    2)Research
  • Assign a different animal to each student based on their choices.
  • Students do research on their assigned animals using enclylopedias, books and internet sites.  Students need to gather information about physical characteristics, habitat, adaptations and factors that endanger the animal.
  • Students write the information on index cards, correctly siting sources.
  • Class field trip to Monterey Bay Aquarum.
   3)Organize Report
  • Students prepare outlines of their information.
  • Outline headings need to include: Introduction, Physical Characteristics, Habitat, Adaptations, Endagering Factors, Conclusion.
  • Each heading will have at least two subheadings with facts and details.
  • Students choose the order for their headings.
       4)Introduction to Report
  • Students write an introductory paragraph for their report.
  • Introductions are to include a topic sentence and at least three other sentences that describe the major areas to be covered in the report.
  • Include something to arouse the reader's interest.
    5)Write a Report
  • Students write one paragraph each on Physical Characteristics, Habitat, Adaptations and Endangering Factors.
  • Stress the inclusion of interesting details and personal experience from field trip.
        6)Conclusion to Report
  • Students write a concluding paragraph.
  • Conclusions need to tie information together, express student's point of view, and offer a provocative question.
       7)Bibliography
  • Students write a complete biography, siting all sources used correctly.
  • A minimum of four sources are required, at least one from internet.
       8)Power Point Presentation
  • Students create a Power Point Slide Show.
  • One card per report paragraph.
Culminating Activity
  • Have students present Power Point slide shows to class.

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Assessment
  • Students will take a teacher created test  called "Research" at funbrain.com before and after the presentation of this unit.

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Results

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Web Resources & Supplementary Materials

Introductory Activity
Fun Brain Quizzes
Monterey Bay Animals

Enabling Activity

Student Search Engines:
Yahooligans
Britannica
Ask Jeeves for Kids
Lycos Zone
Apple Search
Education World
One Key
Encyclopedia.com
Studyweb.com
 
 


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Chicago Park School
Chciago Park, California
Kathryn Dunning kitdunning@hotmail.com
Last Revised: 04/03/01