1st grade lesson: Integrating Technology in Science

Plants and animals meet their needs in different ways. As a basis for understanding this concept:
2c. Students know animals eat plants or other animals for food and may also use plants or even other animals for shelter and nesting.

Hook: students listen to a story called Food Chain Frenzy from the Magic School Bus collection. While readng the story, the teacher asks students questions about specific details.

Learning objective/jobs: Teacher tells students that they will be learning about food chains and the different animal eaters (carnivores, herbivores & omnivores). They will be listening and learning, working with their groups, and then as a whole class on the.

Activate prior knowledge: Teacher asks sudents what kind of food humans eat (fruits, veggies, meat, etc.) and tells students that because we eat all different types of food, we are considered omnivores (a combo of herbivore and carnivore).

Video lesson/guided practice: On the computer students watch an interactive video on animal eaters and food chains (connected in video). Teacher pauses video throughout to ask specific questions. At the end of the video, teacher guides students through a short food chain and animal eater game. Teacher calls on students to come up to computer to participate in the game.

Independent Practice/Group work: Students are instructed to work in groups for the next activity. Teacher opens another food chain game on a different site. Teacher displays the different games one at a time for one minute. Students are to study what they see and determine where the plants or animals belong on the food chain. After they study, they discuss with their group members how they think the food chain is organized. Once discussion is over, teacher calls on one grou at a time to come up to the computer to complete the food chain (each student from each group will have a chance to use the computer).

Closing/review: Teacher opens up a mind map application. Students name the different types of diets animals have (omnivore, herbivore, or carnivore). Then students name off animals they saw and they type(s) of food they eat.

Students use critical thinking skills to plan and
conduct research, manage projects, solve problems,
and make informed decisions using appropriate
digital tools and resources.

a. Identify and define authentic problems and
significant questions for investigation
b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution
or complete a project