THE TINY SEED

By Eric Carle
Second Grade Cyber Lesson Prepared by Jessica Hovenstine

INTRODUCTION
In the fictional story, The Tiny Seed, you will learn about a tiny seed that travels through the seasons on an exciting journey. You will read about the dangers it faces and how it becomes a beautiful flower.

MATERIALS
A copy

of The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle with an internet connection

A computer

Reading

journal and pencil

graphic organizer

Sequencing

BEFORE YOU READ

Take a look at the cover and title of the book. Take a picture walk to predict what you think the story will be about. In your reading journal, write one prediction about what you think will happen in The Tiny Seed. Go to the link below to learn more about seeds and plants. Click on the Helping Plants Grow Well activity and then take the quiz. How to Grow a Plant

DURING READING
The tiny seed travels for so long that it lives through all the seasons. As you read about the tiny seeds journey, you will be using the link to the sequencing chart on the next slide.

Choose only the important details from the story to write in the chart.

DURING READING
After you read each section listed below, stop and click on the link to type the main events into the correct box on the sequencing chart. Chain of Events Pages 1-12 Autumn Pages 13-14 Winter Pages 15-22 Spring Pages 23-26 Summer Pages 27-30 Autumn returns

AFTER READING
Look back at your prediction in your reading journal. How accurate was your prediction? Discuss with a partner the difference between what you thought was going to happen and what actually happened in the story. Then, go to the link below to answer any questions that you still have about seeds and plants. In your reading journal, write three new facts that you learned about seeds and plants from the link. Click Next, at the bottom of the page, to get to each new web page on the site. The Great Plant Escape

BEYOND READING
Now that you have read The Tiny Seed, talk with a partner about the real and make-believe parts of the story. Take a look at the video on the link below to watch real seeds in action. PBS: The Seedy Side of Plants

Using the book and the video, write three real and three make-believe parts from the story in your reading journal and why you think so. Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.

EVALUATION
2 points Before Reading The student wrote one prediction in his/her reading journal. He/she did not use many details from the picture walk to support the prediction. The student visited the link but did not finish the activity or quiz. The student completed the sequencing chart using few details from the story. The order of events has some errors. 4 points The student wrote one prediction in his/her reading journal. He/she used some details from the picture walk to support the prediction. The student visited the link, completed the activity and did some of the quiz questions. The student completed the sequencing chart using some details from the story. The order of events is accurate. 6 points The student wrote a detailed prediction in his/her reading journal. He/she clearly used many details from the picture walk to support the prediction. The student visited the link, completed the activity and finished the quiz. The student completed the sequencing chart using many important and relevant details from the story. The order of events is accurate and clear.

Before Reading continued

During Reading

EVALUATION CONTINUED
2 points After Reading The student discussed the accuracy of his/her prediction with a partner. He/she visited the link but only wrote 1-2 new facts that he/she learned about seeds and plants. 4 points 6 points The student discussed the accuracy of his/her prediction with a partner. He/she visited the link and wrote 3 detailed and clear facts that he/she learned about seeds and plants. The student discussed the accuracy of his/her prediction with a partner. He/she visited the link and wrote 3 new facts, without many supporting details, that he/she learned about seeds and plants. The student discussed The student discussed real and make-believe real and make-believe elements with a partner. elements with a partner. He/she watched the He/she watched the video on the link but video on the link and only wrote 1-2 real and wrote 3 real and 3 1-2 make-believe make-believe elements elements related to The related to The Tiny Tiny Seed. Seed. His/her ideas may need more details or may be unclear in some way.

Beyond Reading

The student discussed real and make-believe elements with a partner. He/she watched the video on the link and wrote 3 real and 3 make-believe elements related to The Tiny Seed. His/her ideas are clearly developed and include supporting details when necessary.

CREDITS
Book for Cyber Lesson: Carle, E. (1987). The tiny seed. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. Websites:
The Great Plant Escape

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case3/c3facts1.html
PBS: The Seedy Side of Plants

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/plants/
BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/science_7_8.shtml

Graphic organizer:
Chain of Events

http://www.educationoasis.com Other thanks: Becky Caplinger, one of my classmates in RDG 589, helped me develop the graphic organizers used in this cyber lesson. Another classmate, Megan Zaba, gave me helpful feedback on this cyber lesson. Dr. Kurkjians cyber lesson template and student examples were very helpful in the development of this cyber lesson.

TEACHER PAGE
To begin, ask yourself how you will group your students based on reading ability. This cyber lesson can be done independently by students who are able to read The Tiny Seed. For students at lower reading levels, you can either pair them with a student who can read the book, or you can do the cyber lesson with a small group of students who need more support. I would recommend conferring with students when completing the evaluation so they are able to help assess their own progress on the cyber lesson.