STRUCTURED DISCOVERY INSTRUCTION (INDIRECT INSTRUCTION) LESSON PLAN

Grade Level/Subject: Essential Standard and Objective

Fifth

Topic: Ecosystems

Behavioral Objective Objective Rationale Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills Key Terms and Vocabulary Materials

5.L.2 Understand the Interdependence of plants and animals with their ecosystem Objective: 5.L2.1 Compare the characteristics of several common ecosystems including estuaries and salt marshes, ocean lakes and ponds, forest and grasslands. 5.L2.2 Classify the organisms within an ecosystem according to the function they serve: producers, consumers, or decomposers (biotic factors) In small groups using materials given the students will make a poster board displaying their ecosystem Ecosystems play a very important role missing one piece can change the way the whole ecosystem goes Knowledge: Of different animals Skills: Examining data to determine characteristics of ecosystems and the animals that live in those ecosystems Ecosystem, Producer, Consumer, Decomposer Art supplies: markers, pins, etc. Related books Poster Boards (1 for each group) Example Ecosystems http://www.neok12.com/Ecosystems.htm http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0164-ecosystems.php http://www.pbs.org/earthonedge/ecosystems/ Content and Strategies Lesson Introduction Show students examples of ecosystems. Ask students what the weather would be like there, and what animals they think would live there. Also ask why it is important that there be different kinds of animals within the ecosystem. What roles do the Producer, Consumer, Decomposers play in each ecosystem? After some good answers are provided ask students to as a group choose an ecosystem discover what lives there and why. Lesson Development Divide students into groups of 4 or 5. Provide each group a poster board and some art materials. Students can then choose from the resources in the front of room about ecosystems to find as much information on their ecosystem as they can. The teacher will walk around the room answering any questions students might have. Rejoining as a group student will share each ecosystem. Students will describe their ecosystem and act out what life is like in that ecosystem. They will tell about the animals that live there and what jobs they have there.

Resources

Engage

Explore

Explain

Elaborate

Tell students that have discovered the different types of ecosystems. Clarify where each system would be located at and what animals might be found there. Talk about which animals are Decomposers, Producers, Consumers in each ecosystem. Go over why it is important that each of the groups is represented and what would happen if one group was missing.

Plans for Individual Differences Lesson Evaluation Evaluate