Week-6 Summary of Lesson Plan Presentations

The first person to present was Kevin Harrison. He presented a neat lesson based on "Multiplication or Addition". I liked this lesson for 3rd grade students. This lesson helps them to recognize when it will benefit them more to add or multiply. Which, I feel like students do tend to have trouble recognizing how quick they can count when they multiply. Some don't feel confident enough multiply all the time; but this gives them a chance to try multiplying more. I really liked the use of Quizizz.com; with the five questions for the closure activity. This was creative and different from most of the quiz and assessment sites I have seen teachers using. I feel overall this was a great lesson and easy to teach.

The second to present was Rachel Scott. She presented to us a Reading/Language Arts lesson for 1st and 2nd grade students. Her lesson about teamwork was really interesting. I am impressed that she was able to find a book on teamwork that seemed so engaging. I really liked that she used real life classroom partners to show teamwork; which is linked back to the lesson topic. The information she provided about the Spanish version of the Scholastic News website; I feel is going to be very valuable for modification use. This is a valuable lesson to teach to the students about team work.

Next to present was Lesli Hendrix. She presented to us a Freshman English lesson involving the identification of literary elements. She used the book, "On the Sidewalk Bleeding", by Evan Hunter. I thought it was very neat and a good use of modification; to include the audio version of the book as well. The audio version is a good tool to have, especially for inclusion for Special Needs students. I feel like this lesson would capture the interest of any Freshman; which can be challenging to do. This was a very unique and captivating lesson plan.

Fourth to present was Allysa Valley. The lesson she presented was an Algebra lesson for 9th grade students. She taught the students the use of the Quadratic Equation. It seemed like there was a solid method for teaching the students this. I also liked the questions she asked the students. For example, how they knew the equation is a quadratic equation. It is very important to have the students relay how they know something and not just be performing routines. When they can tell you how they know something; they can retain the information. This was a nice Math lesson.

Next, Kim Evangelista presented her lesson on 6th grade English. The book she used for her lesson plan instruction was "Wonder". I think is was a neat idea for her to show the book trailer she found on the internet, for the movie Wonder. She had one of the most unique "K-W-L" type charts; that I have seen. The chart was different and involved. The several different kinds of categories on it, to include a group opinion, was very innovative. This was a well thought out lesson.

The sixth presenter was Susan Porter. She presented her 3rd grade Science lesson. The lesson was one of my favorite lessons; The Life Cycle of a Frog. I studied frogs at the Lay Science Center towards Bowling Green, MO; when I was in about 8th grade. I always thought this topic was really cool and I really like this lesson. I enjoyed the True/False frog worksheet that she used for the Anticipation activity. The questions she made were interesting and would catch the student's attention. She did a great job creating this lesson.

The seventh presenter was Michelle Perry. Her lesson was a Kindergarten Math lesson. She had the students learning about the characteristics of a square. She used a different website, Gomath.com, to present the questions to the students. This was a good lesson to go over characteristics of shapes; with the students.

Our eighth and last presenter was Sara Houston. Her lesson was for 1st grade students. Her lesson was on drawing conclusions or making predictions. She chose to use the book "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly". I really like the idea of using this book; especially for the teaching of a predictions lesson. It would be interesting what the students would predict will happen next in this particular book.

 As for what I would like to apply in my class; I think I would like to try all of these books and lessons at least once within my future classroom. I have really learned a lot of different ideas and ways to do things through this class. I would be excited to convert, if need be, and try any of these lessons in my classroom.

Week 4- Lesson Plan with Evaluation of Instructional Materials

My lesson plan that I am posting on here is the one I plan to teach in my host teacher's classroom; I am observing in. I am posting the lesson and then how it meets the Evaluation for Instructional Materials.

Lesson Plan 

5th Grade Science

Standard: Human Impacts on Earth's Systems 5. ESS3.C.1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.

Objective: Students will be able to read for content, using the printed article and fill in a Bubble map with three ideas on ways to save the environment; using 100 percent accurate information supplied by the article; including at least one  reason for each idea on why these ideas can save the environment.

Duration: 1 hour 15 mins. max

Materials: Missouri Conservation Magazine, Copied Articles, Pencil, Paper, Tree Saplings or Seed packets

Bloom's Taxonomy: Create, Evaluate, Analyze, Apply, Understand, Remember 

Vocabulary: 

Anticipatory Set: I will have the students take a magazine walk with me using the document camera, through the Xplor Missouri Conservationist magazine for kids.

Input: I will tell the students about the conserving of animals and how this magazine helps students like them; to know ways of practicing conservation of the Earth. 

Modeling: I will name one way I practice helping my environment; through composting.

Guided Practice: I will ask the students to raise their hands and name some ways they can practice helping their environment. 

Independent Practice: I will ask the students to read the article I print out from the conservation magazine, with a partner. Then I will ask the students to fill in a Bubble map with 3 ideas of what they learned from the article, on ways to save the environment. They will need to include at least one  reason for each idea; on why they feel these would help the environment.

Extension: Students can research the growth of a certain plant. They can draw and label a progression picture for each day that the plant would grow.

Check for Understanding: The students are to each fill out their own bubble map during this lesson.

Closure: We can get out in the dirt, make some mud and plant seeds that will support our Earth in a positive way. You can sign up for your own Xplor magazine, delivered free to your home at mdc.mo.gov/xplor This is when I will give out the seed packets or tree saplings for the students to take home and explain to them that by planting these plants we are helping to conserve our planet.

Extension: Students can research the growth of a certain plant. They can draw and label a progression picture for each day that the plant would grow.

Accommodation/ Modification: I will pair students who have special needs or are ELL students; with a typical or above average reader to read the article. I will provide a list of some keywords for special needs or ELL students to choose three ideas of conservation from; to fill in their bubble maps. A list of the vocabulary words will be provided as well; including a alternative language to English language conversion of each word.

Differentiation: I will provide for differentiated learning through, providing students with different learning styles, different learning strategies. I am providing writing and reading opportunities. I am also providing the magazine walk for visual and auditory learners. The extension activity is geared toward kinesthetic learners.

Technology: Document Camera, SMART board, Chrome books for extension activity

Thinking Map: Bubble map with three main bubbles and several lines leading to bubbles; for supporting reasons.

Research Based Instructional Strategies: Cooperative Learning- partner reading

Accurate Information: Information is provided through a reputable children's nature magazine; The Missouri Conservationist. 

Meets Learning Objectives: This lesson meets my objective of getting the students to read for content; by allowing the students to independently read the article in a group of two and showing the content they learned through filling out a bubble map.

Appropriate To the Audience: This lesson is geared toward students 5th grade and under and uses a children's magazine for literary support.

Interesting to Age Group: This lesson is supported by a popular children's magazine with information for various ages; thus I know that these topics are interesting to this age group.

Good Condition: Within my objective, the condition is met through the students using the printed article for content reading.

Employs Creative Thinking: This lesson provides for students to be able to creatively think about all the ways they can practice Earth conservation.

Motivating and Engaging: This lesson is motivating and engaging to students; to be able to get out in their yards and practice conservation for themselves.

This was extremely hard for me to complete for some reason this time. However, I feel like I have learned a little more about lesson plans this way as well. I think this lesson will be really fun for the students and myself. Thank you for reading all of this.