1. Topic-
Sea Turtles
 
2. Content-
What is a sea turtle?
Where are sea turtles found?
Where are sea turtles born?
How do sea turtles make it to the ocean?
What is one interesting fact you found about sea turtles?

 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
1. Students gain an overall knowledge about sea turtles.
2. Students are able to develop a tally table in order to keep track of how many turtles make it to our "ocean" (made in class).
3. Students can improve social skills while working in groups on the sea turtle worksheet provided in class.
 
4. Objectives-
1. Be creative.
2. Work well in groups.
3. Learn about sea turtles.
 
5. Materials and Aids-
Colorable image of a sea turtle, which is attached to this lesson plan (one image per kid)
Markers
Crayons
Colored Pencils
Scissors
Large roll of blue paper (used to create paper "ocean" in the classroom)
Flash light (used as "moonlight")
String measure from child's hand to the ground (one piece per kid)
 
6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

1. Talk about summer vacation.
2. Describe my summer and my sea turtle experience of how I counted how many baby sea turtles made it to the North Carolina Ocean by following the moonlight.
3. Or just ask about the kids about their favorite animals and say one of yours is a sea turtle.
 

B. Development-

1. We will be breaking up in groups to research about sea turtles and complete the worksheet provided by the teacher (attached to this lesson plan).
2. Use books, computers, magazines etc. to help answer the questions on the handout.
3. Finally we will be coloring in our own sea turtles and demonstrating how they take their journey to the ocean.
 

C. Practice-

1. When students break up into groups and begin working keep noise level down as much as possible so you do not disrupt other classrooms.
2. Any questions they have as the teacher you will answer them to your best ability. Also always be walking around making sure kids stay on task.
3. If need be start them off by showing them how to research about sea turtles on the Internet or by using a book. Search for the answer to the first question together to provide a guide.
 

D. Independent Practice-

1. Evaluate the worksheet answers and grade them.
2. Does the student have the ability to use technology when researching or does the student just stick to books?
3. Make sure students are reading and understanding concepts.
 

E. Accommodations (Differentiated Instruction)-

1. Lower level ability students: Have teacher help with all guided questions, maybe also give them a book and don't expect them to work well with Internet research.
2. Average level ability students: Let them try their best and work in a group of mixed abilities so the higher level ability students will force the average level ability students to work harder.
3. Higher level ability students: Ask them extra questions. Have them answer other students questions to keep a good flow of classroom engaged time.
 

F. Checking for understanding-

1. Have students reflect on the assignment in their journals.
2. Have the students explain to you everything they learned because of this sea turtle assignment.
3. Have the children hand in their tally tables to make sure they kept up with the count of turtles who made it to the ocean and also to see their ability to form a tally table.
 

G. Closure-

1. Take pictures of event and keep them up on the wall for kids to see their accomplishments.
2. Have a class discussion about the assignment at carpet time.
3. Grade the group worksheets, and tally tables. If need be give a quiz on sea turtles.
 
7. Evaluation-
1. Were all goals/objectives met?
2. Did the students have fun in an organized manner to learn about sea turtles and to practice their counting abilities?
3. What was the overall grade average for this assignment? (This will show you if your lesson in fact taught the students something).
 

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