Unit Question: What is the water cycle?

Unit Question: What is the water cycle?

 

Point of View:  Air is all around you by Franklyn M. Branley is a great book that demonstrates the water cycle.  This book it directed for children to learn and understand the concept of the water cycle.  It is a cute book that will hold their interest and at the same time they will be learning about how the water cycle works.  Reading: 110.4.9b establish purposes for reading and listening such as to be informed, to follow directions, and to be entertained.

 

A dramatic question:  What other things did we see that benefit from the air and water cycle? 

 

Emotional Content:  What would happen to you and your family without the water cycle?  Science: 112.4.6a maniplulate,predict, and identify parts that, when separated from the whole, may result in the part or the whole not working, such as flashlights without batteries and plants without leaves.

 

The gift of your voice:  You could assign different characters to students in your class.  When that particular character is "talking" that student could read.  This will help the other students identify the various characters and allow them to better understand who is "talking".

 

The power of the soundtrack:  You could find different tracks that have water sounds in them.

 

Economy:  The book allows them to see who all is affected and how they can help.

 

Pacing:  The book is directed to the children and really allows them to understand the lesson.  The words are not over their heads and flows at a moderate speed.

 

 

SlideShare

At first when I looked at SlideShare I was a little overwhelemed. I think that it is a lot of information to take in a one time. After you begin to read it and start to break up the directions it is not so bad. I think that this could really be a useful tool for the classroom. I think that students could really benefit from this and might even take in more informaton about the lesson. I would probably do a walk thru with the class and get them started, then let them create their own project.

I feel that I was able to really blend several different subjects in to this unit plan. I feel that everything is a learning experience and by adding a few activities you can really touch on several different subjects. I was able to touch on math, science, social studies, and even language arts. I was even able to add a little bit of their personalities by giving them an at home project.

Why we need oxygen

View more presentations from Shawna Bradshaw.

Web Sites for Oxygen in our World

These were some really great websites for kids to look at and expand their knowledge of oxygen.

The Warlick Input!

A person that is very well known for his blog is David Warlick. The link to his blog is http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/. Warlick spends a great deal of time sharing his thoughts and opinions. His blog gives some great ideas for set-up and design.

I think that blogging is a great way for students to get together and share their thoughts. I think that the way that technology is growing, blogging will be used a lot more in future classes. I think it would be a good tool for projects and research that students may have to find. I also think that blogging is a better way for students to get feedback from their peers on the work that they have created. Students may also find blogging very helpful for giving them topics for writing papers.

I could see myself using blogging in my future classroom. I think that students could use it for getting together on projects and even answering questions about assignments. I invision this tool being used in my classroom as more of a source of help and understanding on assignments. I think is would also be a great way to give my students some helpful exposure to the internet and its resoureces.

Inquiry and Project-Based Learning

Inquiry based learning and project based learning are tools for students to increase their knowledge and social skills. Inquiry based learning is design for a student to "seek the truth, information, knowledge , or information by questioning" (Concept to Classroom 2004). This learning process begins with a birth of a child observes actions of others, and tries to imitate the same actions. Individuals will mirror the actions that they see, although they are not always correct the knowledge is stored. Inquiry learning begins as a framework in the classroom
develops into a "stresses skill development and nurtures the development of good habits in mind" (Concept to Classroom 2004). An activity that introduces Inquiry based learning would be a how-to project. In the students' science class they would demonstrate and build a garden for their classroom. This activity allows them to explore and it their is no exact way it can be done. Fusion Inquiry based learning is a website i found pertaining to components and activities an inquiry based learning. Another website i found is Teachnology. The website is a online teacher resource, it helps teachers with lessons, activities, and glossaries. Project based learning is a small collaborative groups that teaches students real world problems and challenges (edutopia 2008). As students begin their assessments they gain a deeper knowledge on their subject they are studying. The components that are used are more updated approach to research, for instance using the Internet and other various sources. The teacher illustrates more technology usage in the curriculum and activities. An activity that would encourage knowledge of technology could be a year book project. This project would introduce several aspects of technology. Project based learning space is a website that gives you a background and project to introduce project based learning. The University of Delaware developed a website that contains information on Project Based learning on how to get students involved.


EQ: Why do we need oxygen?

This is an essential question because most students do not realize how important oxygen is. This question allows students to learn what oxygen is and it's many uses. In researching this topic the students will learn about many more aspects of oxgen.

Unit Questions:
UQ1: Could we live with out oxygen?
UQ2: What produces oxygen?
UQ3: What can we do to produce oxygen?

In searching for the answers to these questions the students will develope their own new questions. These questions will inform the students of the importance and well as what they can do to help the enviornment. In understanding the affects of oxygen they will grasp a huge part of science.