Amazing Alligators
Title: Amazing Alligators
Subject: Science
Grade Level: 1 - 2Overview:
Students will work in cooperative groups using a Resource List of Internet sites to collect information about alligators. Students will use an Alligator Fact Gathering Sheet to organize the data. Students will use the data to create a KidPix slide that will be incorporated into a group slide show.Approximate Duration: 5 - 30 minute class periods
Content Standards:
Science as Inquiry
The students will do science by engaging in partial and full inquiries that are within their developmental capabilities.
Life Science
The students will become aware of the characteristics and life cycles of organisms and understand their relationships to each other and to their environment.Benchmarks:
SI-E-A1
asking appropriate questions about organisms and events in the environment;
LS-E-C1
examining the habitats of plants and animals and determining how basic needs are met within each habitat;
LS-E-C2
describing how the features of some plants and animals enable them to live in specific habitats;Grade-Level Expectations (GLEs):
The Abilities To Do Scientific Inquiry
Grade 1
1. Ask questions about objects and events in the environment (e.g., plants, rocks, storms)
(SI-E-A1)
2. Pose questions that can be answered by using students’ own observations and scientific knowledge (SI-E-A1)
Grade 2
1. Ask questions about objects and events in the environment (e.g., plants, rocks, storms)
(SI-E-A1)
2. Pose questions that can be answered by using students’ own observations, scientific knowledge, and testable scientific investigations (SI-E-A1)Organisms and Their Environments
Grade 1
32. Describe features of some animals that benefit them in their environments (LS-E-C1)
Grade 2
35. Identify the components of a variety of habitats and describe how organisms in those habitats depend on each other (LS-E-C1)Interdisciplinary Connections:
English/Language Arts: Standard 2
Students write competently for a variety of purposes and audiences.
English/Language Arts: Standard 5
Students locate, select, and synthesize information from a variety of texts, media, references, and technological sources to acquire and communicate knowledge.
Arts: Creative Expression
Students develop creative expression through the application of knowledge, ideas, communication skills, organization abilities and imagination.Educational Technology Standards:
Use a variety of developmentally appropriate resources and productivity tools (e.g., logical thinking programs, writing and graphic tools, digital cameras, graphing software) for communication, presentation, and illustration of thoughts, ideas, and stories.
Use technology tools (e.g., publishing, multimedia tools, and word processing software) for individual and for simple collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities for a variety of audiences.
Gather information and communicate with others using telecommunications (e.g., email, video conference, internet) with support from teachers, family members, or peers.Objectives:
1. The student will learn facts about the alligator, including but not limited to habitat, characteristics, food, traits, habits, offspring and interesting facts.
2. The student will conduct research using a Resource List, online encyclopedias, reference materials on CD-ROM, and books.
3. The student will make a KidPix slide show to present his information.Lesson Materials and Resources:
Materials: Stuffed alligator
Books: Assorted fiction and non-fiction titles from the school libraryTechnology Tools and Materials:
Hardware:
Multimedia computer with Internet connection, projector, printer
Software:
KidPix, Inspiration, PowerPointWeb sites:
Sea World
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/index.htm
The Gator Hole
http://home.cfl.rr.com/gatorhole/
Gator Land
http://www.gatorland.com/index.html
All About Alligators
http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/Alligator.shtml
The American Alligator
http://agrigator.ifas.ufl.edu/gators/
Billy Bear - Alligator
http://www.billybear4kids.com/animal/whose-toes/toes7a.html
American Alligator
http://www.nature.ca/notebooks/english/amgator.htm
St. Augustine Alligator Farm
http://www.alligatorfarm.com/
Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park
http://www.citrusdirectory.com/hsswp/animals/alligator.html
The Oakland Zoo Alligators
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/meet_the_animals/american-alligatorBackground Information:
Students may have some prior knowledge of alligators. Students should be familiar with the steps in the writing process. The student should have some experience working with the Internet. They should be able to create a KidPix slide. They should be able to create a KidPix slide show with some teacher assistance. Students should be able to work in collaborative groups.Lesson Procedures:
Teacher will display a stuffed alligator toy. Students will name the animal. Teacher will tell students that they are going to learn various facts about the alligator.
Present a PowerPoint slide show with pictures of alligators as a motivational tool. Or the teacher may show one of the videos about alligators from United Streaming. Some of the available videos are: Jeff Corwin Experience, The Louisiana Swampy Ecosystem; Animal Profiles: Alligators and Crocodiles; Jeff Corwin Experience, The Florida Unique Ecosystem; Animals Around Us - Reptiles: What Are They?; and Junior Zoologist: Fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles.
Use Inspiration software to brainstorm ideas. The categories should include habitat, characteristics, food, offspring, habits, and interesting facts.
Read a book of your choice about alligators to students.
Students will work in groups to gather information about alligators using the Alligator Fact Gathering Sheet. The Alligator Hotlist will be used as a resource to gather the information.
The students will create a slide in KidPix Studio using this information.
The groups will create a slide show using the KidPix slides, with the teacher's assistance.
The teacher will complete the Group Project Evaluation Form.
The students will complete the Self-Assessment form after completion of the slide show.
Slide shows will be presented to the class.Assessment Procedures:
Finished Product-KidPix Slide
Group Project Evaluation Form
Team Work Rubric
Student Self AssessmentAccommodations/Modifications:
Non-Reader Modifications
Peer or adult will read text aloud for non-readers.
Allow non-reader to orally tape research findings.Attention/Behavior Modifications
Implement a "partner" system for learning situations.
----- written by Nancy HodgesReproducible Materials:
Alligator Hotlist
Fact Gathering Sheet
KidPix Rubric
Team Work Rubric
Group Project Evaluation Form
Student Self AssessmentExplorations and Extensions:
Post final KidPix Slides on a class website.
Bind the printed copies of KidPix slides to form a book.
Present slide show to other classes.
Initiate Internet project "Traveling Alligator", in which the stuffed animal is mailed to participating classes to learn about other regions of the United States. Participating classes will exchange email messages, pictures, artifacts from the region, etc.
After doing research about alligators, the student could decide if an alligator could survive in different geographical regions. The student could write a report or create a KidPix presentation explaining their reasons why the alligator could or could not survive in different geographical regions.
Students can watch any of several videos available from United Streaming. Some of these include: Story of Read-Alee-Deed-Alee, The Dirt on My Shirt; If I Saw An Alligator; Monty; ABC Animals: A is for Alligator.
Allow students to complete an activity from the list on the Alligator Resources page.Contact Information:
Nancy Hodges
nancy.hodges@mcschools.net
Monroe City Schools
Margaret Henderson
henderson@ulm.edu
Region 8 TLTC
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