www.sci-con.com
The Animal Project

7th Grade Home
Author: Scott Kley Contini

Based on lesson by: Scott Kley Contini and Eric Womack

Date Created: March 2003

 

VITAL INFORMATION

Subject(s):

Science

 

Topic or Unit of Study:

Overview of the relationships and commonalities between all living animals.

 

Grade/Level:

7

 

Objective:

1.        Students will be able to use multiple sources of technology, such as the internet, word processing, and Inspiration to conduct research for both a written report and oral presentation.

2.        Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge about their particular animal and how it relates to all living things.  Aspects to be demonstrated will include habitat, relationship to humans, reproductive cycle, and other key facts involving predation or defense mechanisms.

 

Summary:

Students will use an Inspiration template to create an outline (rough draft) of their Written and Research information.  The outline will help them complete the 4 major portions of the Project: Research, Written, Visual, and Oral.  Students will demonstrate and understanding of their particular animal to their classmates who will in turn help to generate an Assessment test based on the information presented.

 

IMPLEMENTATION

Learning Context:

Students will have learned about all living organisms, their cellular structure and processes.  In order to further this understanding students will present several different types of animals and show the inter relationship between all animals.

 

Procedure:

1.        Ss will receive their animal at random. (animal names in a bowl)

2.        T will distribute/assign computers to Ss.

3.        Ss will be directed to turn “on” computer and go to class website:  http://www.sci-con.com

4.        Students will navigate the webpage to the Animal Project page.

5.        T will advise students to open Inspiration document and save it to disk with their own name as the title.

6.        T immediately prompts Ss to “Save As” a different name document where they can easily find it later.

7.        T introduces the Inspiration document

8.        Ss begin to fill in the document with their animal name as the center piece of information.

9.        T directs Ss to Copy and Paste the instructions into a Word document that they can print when they visit the library (network printer access).

10.    Ss begin their internet search, by going to the main class page and visiting the Yahooligans website.

11.    T should allow several days for student research. 2-3 days of classroom internet research, and 2-3 days of library research.

12.    T will give students 2-3 additional days to work on their posters, and written work in class.  This is also time for Ss to ask questions about their project.

13.    Ss will complete their Inspiration outlines and turn in the Written portion of their work.

14.    Presentation dates will be issued at random (numbers in a bowl) and 4-6 presentations will be performed per day.  Allow 3-4 days for presentation.

 

Time Allotment:

 10 class periods of 45 minutes each.

 

MATERIALS AND RESOURCES

Instructional Materials:

1.        Mobile Computer Lab/Computer Lab 

a.      (Ss can work in groups if there are not enough computers for every student)

2.        Wireless Hub or Access to Internet

3.        Access to Printer

 

Resources:

1.        Inspiration software

2.        Microsoft Word/Works

 

STANDARDS & ASSESSMENT

Standards:

CSS: 7th Grade

CONTENT Standard 11

Students understand that living things in similar environments have structures which function to make survival in their environment possible.

CONTENT Standard 12

Students understand that each species shows variation among its members and differs from other species.

NETS: Student Standard 5

Technology research tools