Lesson+Plans

Lesson Plan #1 - A Particle's Journey Rationale - In 8th grade science, one content area that we cover is chemistry. I have included "A Particle's Journey" lesson plan in my portfolio because it provides evidence that I am able to create and utilize digital stories to support my curriculum. The journey of a substance from one phase to another can be likened to a story; therefore, teaching this concept using a digital story seemed like a natural way to integrate technology into the lesson. Although we can witness phase change on a large scale, such as watching ice melt into liquid water, this content is abstract because one must understand what goes on at the particle level in order to comprehend how and why phase change occurs. The use of pictures within the digital story will be a valuable tool, especially for my ELL and SPED students. Lastly, I am including this lesson plan because it demonstrates that I am able to learn about new technology, such as the program Animoto, and find ways to apply it into my classroom.

Lesson Plan #2 - Connecting the Human Brain and Nervous System Rationale – Mind mapping is a skill that is important for all students, but especially helpful for the visual/spatial learners in my classroom. I am including this lesson plan because I will be requiring students to utilize the online whiteboard program, Dabbleboard, to do an activity that is typically done without technology. By researching given brain and nervous system structures and creating a mind map that connects them, students will get an overview of the learning that will be taking place by seeing the big picture. Also, because they are able to complete the mind map using technology, this process should be even more engaging. Again, I am including this lesson plan because it demonstrates that I am able to learn about new technology, in this case, Dabbleboard, and find ways to apply it into my classroom.

Lesson Plan #3 - Webquest: Animal Testing - A Necessary Evil or Just Pure Evil? Rationale – Webquests provide students with situations to explore their interests in a curricular area by asking provocative questions and/or seeking information to answer those questions, draw conclusions, or make decisions. I included this lesson plan because I want students to be able to use technology to research information on a controversial issue in science (animal testing for biomedical purposes), effectively debate the issue, be open to hearing and analyzing both sides of a the issue, and to synthesize the knowledge gained from the experience in order to make a difficult but informed decision.

Lesson Plan #4 - Shark Expert! Live! Rationale - One of the units that I teach in 8th grade science is about ecosystems. Students explore ecosystems as the largest organizational unit of life on Earth. Ecosystems include the physical environment and the organisms that live in the physical environment. They learn that every organism has a role to play in its ecosystem and has structures and behaviors that allow it to survive. I am including this lesson because it demonstrates use of technology (Skype) to get my students connected with an expert in order interact and learn about how marine biologists study sharks in their ecosystems, and how humans impact the ocean ecosystem.