Lesson Title: Animal Research
Unit Title: Save the Rain Forest
Grade: 2/3
Discipline: Language Arts Composition

Overview of Lesson: Students will select an animal to research using the CD-ROMs and websites. They will verify the information they find using classroom books.


Standards: English Language Arts Composition PreK-4 2024
Use open-ended research questions, different sources of information, and appropriate research methods to gather information for their research projects. Formulate open-ended research questions to explore a topic of interest.
English Language Arts Media PreK-4 2026
Obtain information by using a variety of media and evaluate the quality of the information obtained.
English Language Arts Composition PreK-4 2022
Use their knowledge of standard English conventions for sentence structure, usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling to edit their writing.

Student Outcomes: Students will be able to locate information on a rain forest animal from the Internet and in books. They will find corroborating information in books as a means of verifying the information found on the Internet. They will write mini-reports with basic information about the animal. They will create a rain forest folder display for their mini-reports.

Length of Lesson: five or six half hour sessions

Instructional Mode: independent activity

Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic, Visual-Spatial

Essential Questions: Will learning about a rain forest animal help us to better appreciate the terms endangered and extinct?

Material / Resources Needed: computer, printer, rain forest books, manila file folders, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks

Instructional Strategies: research, writing, drawing

Activity or Procedure: Students will research and write reports about a rain forest animal. The reports will be typed on the computer printed and pasted on a manila file folder with a rain forest background. They will draw the animal and attach it to the folder as a pop out feature so it stands in front of the rain forest background with the report in front of it.

Assessment: completed project with all the steps in place

Evidence that Student Learning Occurred: Students will have successfully completed the project.



Technology Skills Required or Developed: NETS

1. Use input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, remote control) and output devices (e.g., monitor, printer) to successfully operate computers, VCRs, audiotapes, and other technologies.
2. Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities.
3. Communicate about technology using developmentally appropriate and accurate terminology.
4. Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (e.g., interactive books, educational software, elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning.
5. Demonstrate positive social and ethical behaviors when using technology.
6. Practice responsible use of technology systems and software.
7. Create developmentally appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.

Author: C. William Dunsay

Author e-mail: cwmd@earthlink.net

District/Organization: Southern Berkshire Regional School District

Date: Apr. 8, 2002