Name: Miranda Barrineau
______________________________TopicQuest Lesson Plan
Mentor Teacher's Signature
Title of Lesson:
Primary Learning Outcome (PLO):
The primary learning outcomes to be achieved with this lesson include:
A. With teacher guidance students will be able to use the computer to research information on the Internet.
A. Grade: K
Subject Area: Technology Integration
10 Topic: Research
Standard: Uses basic research techniques with teacher guidance.
Materials and Equipment:
1. Paper for drawing
3. Pencil & paper (to make notes for lesson plan assessment and reflections)
4. Modification of a lesson developed by Dr. Diane L. Judd
Technologies that will be used in this lesson include:
Step One: Introduction
Have a small group of students go to a computer. Explain to students that you are going to use the computer to find out information about farm animals. List 2 or more questions that introduce students to topic of farm animals that establish a connection to students' prior knowledge by asking them: "Have you ever been to a farm or read a book about all the different animals that live on a farm?" "Can you tell me something that you know about farm animals?" Today we are going to learn about farm animals by visiting websites on the Internet and we will do a fun activity to learn more about farm animals. I have made a special farm animals page for your class. (During discussion have students turn around away from the computer to interact.)
Estimated Time for Step One:
Teaching the Primary Learning Outcomes:
(Have students sit at the computer where they can control the mouse and computer.) (Explain to students the process of the lesson.) After we visit several websites about farm animals then you will tell me all about your favorite farm animal and draw a picture of yourself as the animal for the farmer.
Check for understanding
Have students explore and discuss the information in each of the 3 pre-selected websites. Ask students guiding questions about the important concepts in each of the visited websites. (Save "Kiddyhouse" website to use in Mission Project.) List three or more questions.
1. Do you remember what we get from cows?
2. What sound does a pig make?
3. What is a farm animal you can ride?
Practice and feedback related to the PLO
Read mission project to students. Explain to students that they are going to be their favorite farm animal. Discuss farm animals with students and show them the examples of farm animals on the website. Tell the students that the information that they will need to complete their mission project is listed and connected in the mission activity. Visit website for information for mission project, "Barnyard Palace." Discuss the information in the linked website in the mission activity with the students to emphasize interesting and important information students will need to complete mission project.
[Students will write (or dictate to teacher) information to be included in the pictures for the mission project. While students are completing mission project, teacher will observe students and give assistance when needed.]
Now you have explored through all of the websites I have provided for you. You will pick the farm animal that you like the best and imagine you are that animal. What sound do you make? What do you like to eat? How do you help humans? Remember to draw yourself as your favorite farm animal!
STEP 1: Think of your favorite farm animal.
STEP 2: Imagine you are that animal and you have to describe yourself to the farmer so he will want you on his farm. Go back to this website and click on the animals to help you remember all about the animal you choose.
STEP 3: You will state what sound you make, what you like to eat, what color you are, and how you are useful to humans.
STEP 4: To finish up your project, you will draw a picture of yourself for the farmer to look at. Look back at some of the websites to help.
Have students discuss their mission project of pictures and information they found on the Internet about farm animals. Tell students that your topicquest page is on the Internet and they can visit the website at school or home to learn more about farm animals. Explain to students that you are going to put their pictures on the Internet and they will be able to share their mission projects with their friends and family. (If possible teacher should take brief notes during the lesson and concluding discussions to be added later to the assessment and reflections in lesson plan.)
Estimated Time for Step Three:
A. Technology Integration
Student will be assessed through observation while using the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission project.
Satisfactory: Student is able to use the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission project.
Unsatisfactory: Student is not able to use the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission project.
2. Explain what you would add to this
plan to accommodate your special student? Explain
what you would add to this lesson to accommodate your special
I adjusted the contrast on the monitor to maximize visual access.
Reflections: (For Electronic Portfolio Standard #1 Knowledge of Subject Matter)
1. a. Describe and give examples of how your TopicQuest lesson created learning experiences and activities that made subject matter meaningful for your students.
My lesson was taught over farm animals. It provided the students with a complete understanding of what happens on a farm and what each farm animal does for humans. My students also learned the sounds that farm animals make and what the name of their babies are. My lesson was very successful and my students retarined the information provided.
b. Describe and give
of how your TopicQuest lesson illustrated your understanding of
and tools of inquiry.
My lesson allowed my students to explore different sites about farm animals and gave thorough knowledge of each farm animal. The students were excited about exploring the internet and learning things they did not know before.
c. Describe and give
of how students were engaged in learning and responded during your
Students were excited about exploring the internet and being able to click on the pictures to learn more about the animals. Students were able to draw their favorite animal on their own paper that they explored on the internet.
2. Describe and give examples
how the students achieved the assessment of your lesson.
the achievement level (satisfactory or unsatisfactory) for each
for each of your students.
A. Technology Integration:
Student assessed through observation while using the computer with teacher guidance to do research and find information for the mission project.
Student One: Satisfactory. Shania was able to draw a picture of her favorite farm animal, which was a cow, and tell me about the sounds the animal makes. She also told me about the useful things her cow did on a farm.
Student Two: Satisfactory. Patrick was able to draw a picture of a horse. This was his favorite farm animal. He told me the useful things his horse did on a farm and he also made the sound that horses make.
Example of TopicQuest Scanned Pictures & Comments
Topic Example by Reada Carter
kindergartner drew a picture of her favorite farm animal that she
learned about on the internet. She included in her picture a baby
calf, which she called a calf and the barn that the cow lives in.
This is a picture by a kindergartner. He drew a his favorite farm animal, which was a horse. He included the horse's tail and the hay that the horse eats. He also drew the stable that the horse sleeps in at night.