Denise Ybañez

LRC 320

December 10, 2008

Final Project

Lesson Plan

Unit Plan: Grade 2-Science

Animals A-Z

Recognizing and Classifying Animals

Overview

In this unit students will learn how to classify numerous types of animals based on learned criteria. Students will be exposed to different habitats based of off the given animal species. Students will explore different types of animals though books, internet, music, and videos. In this unit, students will create a piece of art based off of each particular lesson.

Unit Objectives

  1. Students will be able to distinguish different characteristicsbetween the five animal classes.
  2. Students will be able to classify a given animal according to learned criteria.
  3. Students will be able to distinguish the differences between domestic and wild animals.
  4. Students will express their creativity through art projects assigned at each lesson.
  5. Students will explore aspects such as: habitat, diet, body composition and known skills of a variety of animals.
  6. Students will think and discuss similarities and differences between the five animal classes.

Materials for Production

  1. Computers
  2. Internet
  3. Art supplies (construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, crayons)
  4. Printers
  5. CD player
  6. Speakers
  7. Television
  8. DVD or VHS player

Resources

  1. Picture slides of wildlife and domestic animals.
  2. Educational videos
  3. Wildlife Books
  4. National Geographic/Discovery magazines

Assessment Options

  1. Correct science vocabulary definitions (based on lesson) written in students’ journal.
  2. Teacher assessment of students’ artwork based on given rubric.
  3. A partner presentation to the class on the students’ animal of choice.

Grade 2 Lesson # 7

The Skin Their In: Animals and Patterns

Focus

Some animals in our world have special coats with patterns on them to help them survive in their habitat. Students will choose a species with a repetitive pattern (ex-ladybug’s spots or zebra’s stripes), create a puppet and answer given questions about the species.

Objectives

Students will do the following:

  1. Study species of animals with patterns on their bodies.
  2. Choose a given animal that has a pattern and create apuppet by drawing that species.
  3. Classify the species chosen for art project.
  4. Answer given questions about their animal and present it to the class.

Resources

  • Slides of different species that have patterns.
  • Books and magazines of specific animals and their physical attributes.

Time

2 class sessions

Materials and Preparation

  • Computer
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Animal cut-outs
  • Construction paper
  • Colored markers
  • Crayons
  • Pencils
  • Scissors
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Tape/Glue

Introduction

Students can use shapes and patterns to create an art design on paper or canvas. Patterns can be used to create a beautiful work of art in the classroom or a strong building, but patterns are also seen in nature---especially animals. Animals have patterns for a variety of reasons including camouflage and protection. After learning about different species with patterns, students will choose one and create an artwork to present to the class.

Instruction

  1. As a class, review the criteria which classify animals to their groups: mammals, fish, invertebrates, reptiles, birds, and amphibians.
  2. Show slides of species that have patterned coats. Explain why patterns help these animals to survive.
  3. Introduce art activity with the teacher’s example. Give students the teacher-selected list of patterned animals:

  1. Cheetah
  2. Dalmatian
  3. Giraffe
  4. Ladybug
  5. Peacock
  6. Tiger
  7. Zebra

  1. Students will choose one animal from the list above and create a puppet using construction paper, markers/crayons, glue/tape and a popsicle stick.
  2. The class will choose an animal that they want to make. They will start by creating the puppet and finish by answering specific questions about their animal in their journals.
  3. Directions for art project:
  4. Choose a patterned animal that you want to create a puppet of.
  5. Use the stencil of that animal (REMEMBER TO SHARE) and draw the shape on construction paper.
  6. Use scissors to cut out the shape of your animal.
  7. Use markers or crayons to color in the pattern (stripes, spots, shapes).
  8. Finally, get a popsicle stick from the container in the front and glue or tape your animal to the end of the popsicle stick.
  9. When you’re finished, begin to answer the questions on the board in your journals.
  10. Directions for answering questions:
  11. Use the books and magazines to answer the questions about your animal in your journal:
  12. What animal did you choose?
  13. What animal group is it in? (mammal, fish, amphibian, invertebrate, bird, or reptile?)
  14. What does your animal use its pattern for? (camouflage, protection, etc?)
  15. Once each student has finished their artwork and journal questions, the students will present their puppets one by one in front of the class and tell the class about their findings.

Evaluation

  1. There will be a teacher evaluation of all artwork to see if the criteria was met
  2. The student created a puppet on one of the teacher-selected animals.
  3. The student made an effort to recreate the designated pattern for their animal.
  4. The student answered questions on the board in their journals.
  5. Unit evaluation in the form of an exam. Were students able to list at least two types of animals that have patterns?

Background

  1. Selected pictures from wildlife books showing patterns found on animals and why animals use them.
  2. Animal Planet Website