Brooke St.

Clair
ELED 3221
22 March 2016
edTPA Indirect Instruction Lesson Plan Template
Landforms
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Central Focus/Big Idea: Understanding and identifying differences in the earths features.
Subject of this lesson: Earth Science
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
NC Essential Standard(s): 3.E.2 Compare the structures of the Earths surface
using models or three-dimensional diagrams - 3.E.2.2 Compare Earths land
features (including volcanoes, mountains, valleys, canyons, caverns, and
islands) by using models, pictures, diagrams, and maps.
Next Generation Science Standard(s): - LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and
Resilience. - When the environment changes in ways that affect a places physical characteristics,
temperature, or availability of resources, some organisms survive and reproduce, others move to
new locations, yet others move into the transformed environment, and some die

21st Century Skills: Environmental Literacy - Demonstrate knowledge and

understanding of the environment and the circumstances and conditions affecting it,
particularly as relates to air, climate, land, food, energy, water and ecosystems

Academic Language Demand

Language Function: In the table below highlight the one most important language
function for your lesson. Explain why you chose this one.
Analyze

Argue

Categorize

Interpret

Predict

Question

Compare/contras
t
Retell

Describe

Explain

Summarize

Scientific Vocabulary: volcano, valley, canyon, cavern, plateau, hill, mountain, plain

Instructional Objective: Students will able to identify different landforms through images and
models

Prior Knowledge (student): Students should know how to make observations of the land around
them and make comparisons, strong listening skills
Content Knowledge (teacher): Must know all names of landforms and a definition of each
(volcano, mountain, hill, plateau, valley, canyon, cavern, plain, island)
Accommodations for special needs (individual and/or small group): Teaching assistants can
help students who have read aloud and write upon request in IEPs
Materials and Technology requirements: Paint, paint brushes, cups, modeling clay,
SmartBoard, worksheet, trays for models
Total Estimated Time: 25 to 30 minutes
Source of lesson: DiscoveryEd
Safety considerations: Make sure there are no allergies to products used in the design portion of
the lesson.

Content and Strategies (Procedure)

Engage: Good morning class! Today we are going to answer the question, what makes up the
earth? I want you to close your eyes and pretend we are driving in the car. Think about what you
see while you are driving on a long trip. The earth looks very different in different locations, and
those differences can tell you about the types of people or animals that could live there. Can
anyone tell me what a landform is? (a natural feature of the earths surface) I will read a
definition for the following words: volcano, mountain, plains, valley, canyon, cavern, island,
hills, and plateau. First I want to see what you are thinking by having you draw 4 of the 9
landforms based on the description that I give you. You will need to pay close attention because
as I read, you will only quickly sketch 4 of the 9 landforms we are going to study today.
Definitions: volcano mountain or hill with a crater with lava that comes out of it
Mountain tall landforms with steep sides and pointy tops
Hill small rises in the land
Cavern a large deep cave
Plateau consists of relatively flat land that is higher than the land around it
Island a piece of land surrounded by water
Plain a large flat place
Explore: (Students will look at the SmartBoard, and we will look at each picture to compare
their drawings to what the actual landform looks like.) I will also read each definition again and
have them turn and talk about the differences in their drawings and the actual picture. Questions:
what are some differences that you notice in your drawings and the actual image? What are some
of the unique characteristics of (any of the 9 landforms)?
Explanation We will watch a video called Exploring Landforms from Discovery Ed as a class
(https://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view?assetGuid=388D8EB0-C409-4E72-B9E91916148959A1&search_id=1373BCD6-9181-CBF8-1E12-FF72356CF59F) after the video they
will turn and talk about something new they learned from the video about a landform. After the
discussion the class will be taking turns matching a picture to one of the landforms on the
SmartBoard. (I have all the options listed on each page to add a challenge to finding the correct
match)
Elaborate: They will be modeling clay to create a landform of their choice. I will distribute the
main materials, and have it prepared for students to share painting supplies. They will write the
name of the landform that they choose to create. After they create their chosen landform, they
will quickly paint the clay. Each student will take one minute to describe some characteristics of
their partner that they shared their paint with.
Evaluate: How will you assess each students progress toward the stated objective(s)? What
evidence will be collected? What type of assessment will be used (formal, informal, formative,
summative)? You are required to include both your formative and summative assessment here.

Summative: Students will complete a worksheet with fill in the blank questions and draw a
picture of a chosen landform
Students must get at least 80% of the assignment correct to achieve mastery (8 out of 10 correct)
Formative: Before you turn in your worksheet to me, I want you to each take a sticky note and
write down the most interesting fact that you learned today and put it on the front desk when you
finish.
To be completed after the lesson is taught as appropriate
Assessment Results of all objectives/skills:
Students successfully completed the worksheet but not all students took the effort to draw a
picture with detail. Four of the six students that were present for this lesson got at least 80% of
the questions correct for this assignment.
Reflection on lesson:
CT signature/confirmation: _________________________________ Date: ________________