Subject and Level: Science: First and Second grades

Learner Description - The children who will participate in the project are in multiage classes in either first or second grade. Ability levels range from "at-risk" to high ability, also including children with special needs, language deficiencies and gifted children.

Overview - Brief description of the unit - an abstract.

The basic understanding of which animals classify as farm animals will be taught. Also, the understanding of how farm animals are integrated into our everyday lives and how they affect out communities. The unit will be taught in several different ways, spanning over as much time necessary. To begin with, children and teacher will have a class discussion to produce a KWL chart. Children will visit various communities establishments that are connected in one way or another to farm animals. Students will research information the internet, to the best of their ability. Books and other resource materials will also be used for research. Students will be involved in an in-depth study of farm animals and how they relate to our every day lives. The most important concept we would like children to have a better understanding of, is how farm animals and their products are directly related to our every day lives.

Rationale -

We would teach this unit so the children would be better related to their communities and the world that surrounds their every day lives. This project qualities as an Engaged Learning unit because the children are directly involved in all areas of the project. For example; KWL charts, plans for the projects, interview question, interviewing people, writing, researching, reading, making dairy products, making list and rubric and putting together their finals projects. Technology is an important part of this project because information the children would retrieved would not have been nearly as information rich without the use of the internet. Technology was also used as a major component capturing the essences of the project through the use of digital photography and digital videos. It was also an important asset for us to be able to share our projects with others. This project is authentic and meaningful for the students because it is appropriate for their cognitive development and interest.

Goals - Content, Cognitive and Social -

We would expect students to gain new skills and knowledge from the project. Children will enhance their abilities to work cooperatively. This will promote strength and confidence amongst peers. Children will also develop adequate researching skills for their developmental levels. Students will gain knowledge in the subject area involving farm animals and their immediate surroundings and how they are directly related to their communities. They will learn about different types of farm animals, their environments, their farm lives and how they directly affect our communities. They will attest to this knowledge by creating a final project on the farm animal of their choice, within a cooperative group.

What school, district, state and national standards/benchmarks are addressed?

1B1a, 1C1a, 1C1b, 3A1, 3B1a, 4A1a, 4A1b, 4A1c, 4A1d, 4B1b, 12A1a, 12A1b, 12B1a,

Learning Activities -

The students will study farm animals and how they relate to their communities. The study will be ongoing and may take several months to complete. They will be evaluated based upon the many different activities that they create or complete. The project will start with a KWL chart relating to what children already know and that they already know about farm animals. The children will view a slide presentation relating to farm animals, received from the farm at the Brookfield Zoo. Students will take a trip to the Brookfield Zoo to visit their farm and observe the many different animals and activities. When they return the farm they will write about their experiences on the farm. There will then be a teacher lead activity introducing web research. This activity will show the process of a cow being milk. Children will compare farm animals to other existing animals using a venn-diagram. Once children are able to classify farm animals and have a general understanding of what they are they will arrange for a visit from a local restaurant owner. Before the visit the children will need to prepare interview questions to ask the owner. A local restaurant owner will come to visit the classroom and share information about how farm animals and their products directly affect their business. After discussion of how we benefit from the bi-products of farm animals, children will engage in making their own butter. They will share their experiences in writing and it will also be captured on digital video. After all of these engaging activities, children will create a final project with a cooperative group. The final project will consist of researching a farm animal of their choice. Students will present this information in the form of a diorama, informative poster, or book. Children will also be responsible for presenting their information to the class. They will be assessed by a checklist that was formulated by students and teachers together.

Student Assessment-

We want to be able to measure the knowledge attained by the students in the subject area of farm animals. It is important for children to understand how farm animals affect our every day lives. We will evaluate student's knowledge levels by the use of a collaborative checklist created by students and teachers together. We will measure and communicate our student's progress by conferencing with them and having class discussion. Student's progress will be measured through writing assessments and their final projects. We will measure and communicate student progress by individual and class discussions and feedback. Students will be involved in establishing goals and criteria by helping to create a checklist and rubric. Students will demonstrate their knowledge and skills by ongoing assessments and a final project. Children will be responsible for presenting their information in a clear and concise manner to the class. Children will also have the opportunity to assess themselves and the people within their cooperative group.

Resources -

We will using reference and information books, computers, internet access, printers, field trips, community related workers, and various kinds of paper and art supplies.

Management

Student work will be managed in groups, as well as individually. Children in the class will each have a folder to store all of their research materials and supplies. All final projects in progress will be stored in particular area of the room where they will safe. The room will be set up in cooperative groups, as as it normally is. Children will have free range of the room to work on their projects in groups. They can work on the computers, at any tables within the room, on the floor, at their desks, in the library, or in the computer lab. Students with special needs have been grouped with children that will work well with helping them. This will promote peer relationships and peer tutoring skills. We will also be circling the rooms to see if children need assistance or extra help. Teachers will also conference with each group to make sure that they are where they need to be.

Unit Evaluation

We will need to gather several pieces of data to be able to assess and grade the children properly. We are very pleased with the outcome of the project and the various assignments we have assessed. One key activity that was effective was the final project. The children fully engaged and thoroughly excited by the activities. We as teachers were able to gage an enormous portion of what they were learning by their involvement of the final project. At first it was difficult for some children to grasp the idea of internet research and research in general. One of the things we would change would be to shorten the length of the overall project, but length the time we spent focusing and directly teaching how to research. Overall, we feel that the children were completely enthralled with the project. We enjoyed watching them grow.