Lions and writers and Bears

Subject Area(s):

• K-12: Science
• Visual Arts
• K-12: Language Arts
• Art Connections

Grade Level(s):

• 3rd-4th Grade
• 5th-6th Grade

Description:

This unit on mammal research targets a 4th grade class and involves collaboration amongst the teacher librarian and classroom and art teachers. Students will explore general characteristics of mammals and each select one mammal to research further in depth. Using print materials and online databases, they will locate facts and share these facts in their own handmade, nonfiction books that are both informative and artistic. A book and poster display is suggested to share this new found knowledge with the school community.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals

Students will:

• Learn the defining characteristics of mammals;
• Research one mammal in depth;
• Relate human activity to the living environment;
• Learn the art of bookmaking; and
• Become self-published writers.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Define at least 3 unique traits of mammals in the animal kingdom;
• Identify the lifestyle characteristics of a selected mammal;
• Identify if the mammal is endangered and state how people affect the life of this animal;
  
• Locate at least one print source and two online sources of relevant information about this animal, answering all of the questions in the Mammal Research Worksheet; and
• Record answers to each of the seven questions (found on the Mammal Research Worksheet) in their own handmade books.  

• Develop student confidence in ability to locate and use needed information.
• Generate and maintain student interest in the research process.
• Promote the importance of students understanding the interdependence of living organisms and student responsibility in conservation efforts;
• Promote student satisfaction in research activities.
• Promote satisfaction in student’s end product to demonstrate learning.

Materials:

"See attached lesson plan in Supporting Files"

Procedures:

"See attached lesson plan in Supporting Files"

Assessment:

"See attached lesson plan in Supporting Files"

Supporting Files:

• Sample_Bookmaking_activity.doc
  
• Mammal_Research_Worksheet.doc
  
• Lions_and_Writers_and_Bears_LP.doc
  This is the lesson plan in detail.

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Formulates questions based on information needs.

Evaluates information critically and competently.

• Selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand.

Uses information accurately and creatively

• Produces and communicates information and ideas in appropriate formats

Information Skills and Subskills (K-16)

Definition

• Determines amount/type of information needed to complete research task

Planning

• Formulates a search strategy
• Identifies potential information sources

Exploration

• Locates and accesses information resources

Collection

• Locates relevant information within selected sources
• Evaluates quality of information and information source
• Recognizes when sufficient information has been obtained

Organization

• Summarizes/synthesizes/classifies final information
• Organizes final information for presentation

Presentation

• Assembles organized information for presentation
• Cites sources appropriately

Evaluation

• Determines future usefulness/applicability of research process
• Subject: K-12: Science

National Content Standards (K-12)

Nature of Science

• Understands the nature of scientific inquiry
• Subject: K-12: Language Arts

Writing

• Gathers and uses information for research purposes

Reading

• Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts

Listening and Speaking

• Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes
• Subject: Visual Arts
• Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes related to the visual arts
• Subject: Art Connections
• Understands connections among the various art forms and other disciplines