MOLLOY COLLEGE

DIVISION OF EDUCATION
LESSON PLAN
Student:

Allison Galgano

Professor:

Maria Esposito

Course:

EDU 521

Date:

June 22, 2016

Grade:

Fourth Grade

Content Area: Science

Topic: Animal Adaptations, the

Makings of a Habitat
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVE(S)
As part of a unit on animal adaptations, this lesson has students using technology tools to
research habitats/biomes found around the world and the animals that live in them. The different
characteristics of each biome will be defined by the students. Students will demonstrate their
knowledge of these biomes, and the reasons why certain animals live there, through the
completion of a fact sheet. The lesson will conclude with students working in groups to produce
a digital brochure representing each of the biomes using the information from their fact sheets.
STANDARDS AND INDICATORS
SL.4.5- Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance
the development of main ideas or themes.
This will be evident when students participate in a group activity where students navigate
the different biomes by using the smartboard.
This will be evident when students watch video that explains the 7 biomes of the world.
SL.4.4- Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner,
using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak
clearly at an understandable pace.
This will be evident when students participate in the Biome Brochure project where
students use their knowledge from their fact sheets to tell a story about that biome.
W.4.7- Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different
aspects of a topic.
This will be evident when students participate in an in-class online research project where
the student is researching facts and characteristics of their assigned biome.
MATERIALS
Smartboard, computers for teacher and students, internet connection, url for Missouri Botanical
Gardens website, url for YouTube video, 25 fact sheets, list of online resources for research
project, StoryboardThat app for brochure creation.
STRATEGIES
Review/Check for prior knowledge about biomes
Model by "thinking aloud" by using vocabulary words to describe different types of biomes, the
climate conditions present, and the different types of animals that live there.

A group discussion about biomes using the smartboard, aimed at building an understanding of
the different characteristics present in each biome
Build background by linking knowledge about animal adaptations to the new information about
the 7 biomes
Oral drill that compares and contrasts the different characteristics of biomes
Electronic assessment of digital brochure to gauge the application of knowledge of biomes
MOTIVATION
Begin lesson with an interactive exploration of biomes from around the world. Students will use
the smartboard to explore different biomes, the temperature conditions there, and what kind of
animals have adapted to survive in such environments. Each student will have a chance to
explore at the smartboard.
DEVELOPMENTAL PROCEDURES
Provoke thought, discussion, and intrigue in students by discussing the extreme
conditions in each of the different biomes and discuss the extent to which animals had
to adapt in order to survive.
Students will watch a video about the 7 biomes and gain an understanding of the
conditions, sounds, and other characteristics of these different habitats.
Students will conduct an in-class online research project where they use online
resources to collect information about their assigned biome and note their findings on
a biome fact sheet (see supplements).
Students will participate in a Biome Brochure project where students will use the
information from their fact sheets to draft a storyboard worksheet (see supplements) as
a draft for the digital brochure they will create.
o Students will use their storyboards to create a digital brochure using the app
Storyboardthat. The brochure will include specific facts and other characteristic
information that is unique to that biome. Once complete and checked for
accuracy, the brochures will be printed and distributed to the class as a study
worksheet.
Broaden interest and knowledge of biomes by assigning homework tasking students to
write a story about the biome they live in. Students will note the climate conditions,
the animals that live there and their adaptations.
Minute
s:

Activity #1

Link to Instructional
Objective:

Key Questions:

Qualitative or
Quantitative
Assessment[s]:

Intro to biomes
group activity
where students
come to the
smartboard to
navigate the
biomes via the
Missouri Botanical
Gardens website.

Students will learn the

different locations and
characteristics of
biomes around the
world.

Describe a desert
biome and explain
what animals would
live there.

Verbal responses
or lack thereof, to
direct
questioning.

Students will
watch a video
about the 7
biomes.

Students will watch a

YouTube video and
learn about the 7
biomes of the world.

How is a biome
different from a
habitat? What are 2
characteristics of an
ocean biome?

Question and
Answer.
Compare and
Contrast.

Minute
s:

Activity #2

Link to Instructional
Objective:

Key Questions:

Qualitative or
Quantitative
Assessment[s]:

Online in-class
biome research
project.

Students will be
provided a list of online
resources to research
their assigned biome.

What continents are Completion of a

located in your
biome fact sheet.
biome? What are the
climate conditions in
your biome? What
animals live in your
biome?

10

Transition to the Next Activity from the Previous

Activity:
Minute Activity #4:
Link to Instructional
s:
Objective:

15

Biome Brochure
Project

Students will use the

information they
learned about biomes to
create an electronic
brochure explaining
what they learned.

Key Questions:

Qualitative or
Quantitative
Assessment[s]:

Tell a story about

your biome (i.e.facts about the
climate, population,
types of animals
present)

Electronic
Brochure

ADAPTATIONS
For advanced learners, provide a challenging crossword puzzle using vocabulary
from the lesson but without a word bank;
For English language learners, provide a word find puzzle (found on Weebly website)
with a word bank and a list of vocabulary words from the lesson along with
corresponding images for each word.
For students who are struggling, but considering the extent of their disability, possible
adaptations may include:
o Seating student in the front of the class to keep distractions to a minimum
o Provide a graphic organizer to keep paperwork and assignments in order
o Supply directions for the next days activity a day prior to the lesson
o Provide a list of vocabulary words from the lesson, definitions of each word at
specific comprehension level, along with corresponding images for each word
o Give a hard copy of the homework and adjust it the current learning level of
student

DIFFERENTIATION OF INSTRUCTION
For Tier 1-3 students, before beginning the lesson, the teacher will recap the previous
lessons about animal adaptations by conducting a question and answer activity,
listening to the students feedback, noting the ability levels of each student
For Tier 1-2 students provide audio and tactile supports to correspond with the visual
components of the lesson.
For Tier 1 students, pair them with a Tier 3 student during the in-class research
exercise, to motivate the Tier 1 students and provide them with direction an
explanation of processing skills, as well as serve as a good model of social behavior.
For Tier 1-3 students break down the topic of animal adaptations into simpler terms
and relatable examples, such as only exploring the adaptations of one species.
ASSESSMENT
The teacher will assess the current knowledge base of the students by asking students
pointed questions about the material previously covered in previous lessons
Knowledge of biomes will be assessed while students participate in a group discussion
about biomes as they explore a website using the smartboard.
Students will participate in the online in-class research project by completing a biome
fact sheet that will be checked by the teacher for accuracy.
Homework assignment where students will compare and contrast the different aspects
and animal adaptations in the biome where they live with 100% accuracy.
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Watch a video segment that compares and contrasts some of the more interesting
climatic and ecological characteristics of the Death Valley desert with those found in
the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. Create a handwritten biome
brochure to explain your findings.
FOLLOW-UP: ACADEMIC INTERVENTION AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT
ACADEMIC INTERVENTION
Students will use a computer-based research tool to understand the different biomes.
Graphic Organizer, create a comparison chart to tell what climate conditions and
animals are present within each biome.
Meet with the teacher to review the vocabulary prior to the lesson.
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT
Use 5 vocabulary word from the Quizlet url: https://quizlet.com/18184986/biomesour-earths-major-life-zones-vocabulary-flash-cards/ and write a paragraph about
biomes using these six words.
Describe which biomes have you visited: tropical rain forest, desert, temperate
deciduous forest, grasslands, chaparral, temperate rain forest, coniferous forest,
tundra, lake or pond, coastal waters, ocean, coral reef? Which biomes would you like
to visit and why?

TEACHER REFERENCES
Animal Adaptations. (2016). Retrieved from http://sciencenetlinks.com/student-teachersheets/animal-adaptations/
Clever Prototypes. (2016). StoryboardThat. Retrieved from http://www.storyboardthat.com/
Engage, N. Y. (2012). New York Common Core Science Curriculum.
Missouri Botanical Garden. (2005). Whats it like where you live? Retrieved from
http://www.mbgnet.net/index.html
Mixon, A. (2016). Animal Adaptations. Retrieved from
http://alex.state.al.us/lesson_view.php?id=6368
NGSS Lead States. (2013). Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States.
Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Quizlet. (2016). Biomes: Our Earth's major life zones vocabulary. Retrieved from
https://quizlet.com/18184986/biomes-our-earths-major-life-zones-vocabulary-flashcards/
WatchKnowLearn.org. (2016). Teri and Jairus: Biome Buddies. Retrieved from
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=24112&CategoryID=731

SUPPLEMENTS
Biome Fact Sheet (used to capture information related to a specific biome)

Story Board Worksheet (used as a draft for the electronic brochure)