My Technology Lesson Plan

EDUC 2220- Educational Technology Lesson Plan

Let’s Find Out About Butterflies

Tiffany SiasPreschool 4-5 / Science

Common Core Standards:

Domain: Cognitive Development and General KnowledgeSub-Domain: ScienceStrand: Science Inquiry and ApplicationTopic: InquiryStatements:-Explore objects, materials and events in the environment.-Make careful observations.-Pose questions about the physical and natural environment.-Engage in simple investigations.-Describe, compare, sort, classify, and order.-Record observations using words, pictures, charts, graphs, etc.-Use simple tools to extend investigation.-Identify patterns and relationships. Make predictions.-Make inferences, generalizations and explanations based on evidence.-Share findings, ideas and explanations (may be correct or incorrect) through a variety of methods (e.g., pictures, words, dramatization).

Domain: Cognitive Development and General KnowledgeSub-Domain: ScienceStrand: Life ScienceTopic: Exploration of living thingsStatements:-With modeling and support, identify physical characteristics and simple behaviors of living things.-With modeling and support, identify and explore the relationship between living things and their environments (e.g., habitats, food, eating habits, etc.).-With modeling and support, demonstrate knowledge of body parts and bodily processes (e.g., eating, sleeping, breathing, walking) in humans and other animals.-With modeling and support, demonstrate an understanding that living things change over time (e.g., life cycle).-With modeling and support, recognize similarities and differences between people and other living things.

Lesson Summary:

The students will learn about the life cycle of a butterfly as well as other facts about butterflies. There will be a “Let’s Find Out Table” with butterfly books, a picture file, flannel board pieces, books, etc.

Estimated Duration:

When I do this lesson plan it takes about one week, depending on the interest level of the children. I plan on dividing the lesson into five days, with each class period lasting 30-60 mintues. Again it may last longer or shorter depending on how interested the children are in the activity each day.

Commentary:

My approach to the lesson is that each day I will have a different book/flannel board/picture file to do with the children at circle time. After circle time we will have a different activity to connect with the lesson at circle time. In order to hook children into the lesson, I will do things such as sing a song, bring in a real caterpillar and introduce it at circle time, give out flannel board pieces, etc. I think the hardest part will be keeping the children’s interest.

Instructional Procedures:

Day 1:

First 10 minutes: Introductory circle time- KWL poster (K part only)-book on tape- “The Very Hungary Caterpillar” by Eric Carle and “I’m a Baby Butterfly” poster

For the remaining time: We will do the Butterfly floor puzzle together and students can listen to the book on tape individually if they’d like.

To start out the circle time, we will discuss what the children already know about butterflies and caterpillars. We will listen to the book on tape together, I will read through the poster with the children. We will discuss the book and the poster. After that, the children who would like, can either listen to the book on tape, look at the poster themselves, or work together to complete the large floor puzzle.

Day 2:

First 10 minutes: Introductory circle time- KWL poster (W part only)- Read the book “Caterpillars and Butterflies” as well as the poster “Get Close to Butterflies”

For the remaining time: Students can make their very own butterfly life cycle cards.

To start out the circle time, we will discuss what the children are wondering/ what the children would like to know about butterflies and caterpillars. I will read the story to the children and go through the poster with them. We will have a discussion about the book and poster. We will talk about the life cycle of a butterfly and I will use the lifecycle cards during circle time. After that, I will leave life cycle cards out for the children to make if they would like. Children can look at the book and the poster on their own after circle time as well.

Day 3:

First 10 minutes: Introductory circle time- Go through the poster “ A Butterfly’s Day” with the children. Discuss daily patterns of butterflies. Compare and contrast to the daily patterns of the children and the school

schedule.

The remaining time: We will make caterpillar patterns and anyone who would like, can play “The Very Hungary Caterpillar Card Game.”

To start out the circle time I will read through the poster with the children. We will discuss a day in the life of a butterfly. We will do a venn diagram of a day in the life of a butterfly vs a day in the life of a preschooler. Venn diagram can be used through a projector to add technology into the lesson. We will discuss daily patterns of a butterfly and daily pattern of a preschooler as well as the pattern of our school schedule. After the group discussion, Children can make caterpillar patterns, and those who would like, can play the card game provided

Day 4:

First 10 minutes: Introductory circle time- I will go through the poster with the children and we will discuss that there are different types of caterpillars and butterflies. This will lead into a discussion about how each one of use is unique and different in our own way.

For the remaining time: Students can draw their own butterfly on paper, use liquid watercolor on coffee filters to make their own butterfly, or use a computer drawing application to make a picture of their own butterfly on the computer.

The poster and this activity is used to show similarities and differences between butterflies as well as celebrate the similarities and differences between people. Make sure to discuss with children that yes, we are all people, but we are also unique and beautiful. Uniqueness is something to be celebrated. Each child will get to make their own unique and beautiful butterfly on paper, on a coffee filter, or on the computer.

Day 5:

First 10 minutes: Introductory circle time- KWL poster (L part only)- go through “How Does a Butterfly Grow” poster.

For the remaining time: Children can sort butterflies and caterpillars toys. According to the child’s interest, they might want to use the caterpillars and butterflies in different creative ways as well.

During circle time we will discuss what children have learned and put it on the KWL poster. We will also review everything we have learned and how a caterpillar/butterfly grows. After circle time children can use the butterfly and caterpillar toys to sort or come up with a new creative idea of how to use them.

Pre-Assessment:

In order to determine what my students already know about caterpillars and butterflies we will use the KWL poster during circle time. The K part of the poster is for the children to tell me what they already know about caterpillars and butterflies.

Scoring Guidelines:

I will use the assessment tool provided by my center to score children’s knowledge of the subject. The scoring tool is simple. It simply says whether or not a child can do a task completely by themselves, mostly by themselves, or needed help.

Post-Assessment:

We will use our KWL poster (The L section) to discuss what the children have learned. I will also use the butterfly life cycle cards and ask each individual child to put the cards in order of the life cycle process.

Scoring Guidelines:

When scoring small children I normally write down whether they can do the entire task by themselves, mostly by themselves, or needed assistance.

Differentiated Instructional Support

In order to provide differentiated instruction, the teacher will provide one on one attention for students who need it. The teacher will allow the students to take the lead in their own learning and provide support. This is known as emergent curriculum. For students who want to go above and beyond what is already provided, the teacher will provide videos and games on the computer.

Discuss additional activities you could do to meet the needs of students who might be struggling with the material: In order to meet the needs of the students who might be struggling with the material, I could provide a video, song, or act out the life cycle of a butterfly using puppets.

Extension

http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/insects/butterfly

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/butterfly.html

these website provides information about butterflies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUybrJmFv0c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8sAHQYvVf0

these websites provide videos about butterflies.

Homework Options and Home Connections

I could send home two activities for the children to do with their parents at home as shown in the two pictures

below. I could also give pamphlets to the parents about the butterfly show at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Parents could take their children to the conservatory on their own or we could all plan a field trip and go together.

Interdisciplinary Connections

I have connected other content areas in the lesson already as stated above. (sorting activity, puzzle, art, etc.)

Materials and Resources:

For teachers Materials listed above-tape player, computer, books, coffee filters, posters, worksheets, cards, game, etc.

For students Materials listed above-tape player, computer, books, coffee filters, posters, worksheets, cards, game, etc.

Key Vocabulary

Egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, cocoon, butterfly, proboscis