1. Topic-
Animal Classification
 
2. Content-
The purpose is to continue and expand student understanding of animal classification while developing information literacy and technology skills through visiting the zoo in a virtual field trip.
 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
1.Work collaboratively to stimulate knowledge about animal classification.
2.Use common science and animal learning to understand animal classification through the virtual field trip.
3. Given computer access to the virtual field trip, third grade students will answer the questions provided in the itinerary with 80% accuracy.
 
4. Objectives-
Students will:
1. Communicate information and ideas, conduct research, and organize data
2. Use effective and efficient strategies to explore and use a wide range of information and technology resources to gain knowledge, deepen understanding, make informed decisions and solve problems for educational pursuits.
3. Define the given task, of successfully and positively classifying animals.
 
5. Materials and Aids-
Computer with Internet access, Virtual Field Trip to the Zoo located on the Animal Classification WebQuest, printer to print itinerary with questions, pencils.
 
6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

Teachers will give a basic lesson on zoo animals and how to classify them before visiting the virtual zoo field trip.
 

B. Development-

The teacher will direct students to the Animal Classification WebQuest. The teacher will show the students how to access the virtual field trip. The students will work independently. They will print the questions on the first page of the field trip and proceed through the trip. Students will answer the questions at each stop of the trip. Once completed, the students will submit their worksheets for grading.
 

C. Practice-

1.Visit the virtual zoo field trip from Animal Classification WebQuest to help students connect prior knowledge.
2. Provide 10-15 minutes for students to explore the virtual field trip on their own.
 

D. Independent Practice-

Encourage students to work alone or with a group to revisit the 3-D environment again and further explore the virtual zoo.
 

E. Accommodations (Differentiated Instruction)-

1.Students come together as a whole group to begin a lesson on how to visit the science
software successfully.
2.Students move out to pursue learning in small groups or individually.
3. Students come back together to share, make plans for additional investigations found about the virtual field trip
 

F. Checking for understanding-

The student worksheets will be graded by the teacher. Students scoring 80% or higher will receive 5 extra credit points on their animal classification project.
 

G. Closure-

Allow students to revisit the zoo field trip website throughout the school year to build fluency with science and animals. You might also want to pair students up with different partners and allow them to teach one another different zoo classification facts. Encourage students to talk about science together.
 
7. Evaluation-
What I have learned is that students react positively to Virtual field trip software's incorporated in the classroom and lesson of the week. The students enjoy this virtual trip because it switches up the monotone classroom routine.
 

This Lesson Plan is available at (www.teacherjet.com)