Science Lesson

School Name: Ivy Tech Elementary

Grade: 3
Topic: Life Science.
Course and Number: Science 101
Standards:
Standard 3 Life Science, Observe, ask questions about and describe how organisms change their
forms and behaviors during their life cycle.
2.3.1 Observe closely over a period of time and then record in pictures and words the changes in
plants and animals throughout their life cycles-including details of their body plan, structure and
timing of growth, reproduction and death.
Prerequisite Skills: Student must have completed the chapter 5 lab on amoebas
Materials List Including any Technology: Cabinet or storage, fish food, week-end fish feeder,
check list and observation notes.
Time Needed (Hours, Weeks ETC) 30 minutes every morning, at the start of the Science
lesson from Monday to Friday.
Essential or Focusing Question (S):

What behaviors do you notice feeding and observing animals, being fed, at rest, at play?
What is the difference between observing the goldfish and the hamster?
Do you think a hamster could live under water like the goldfish?
Instructional Procedures:
What will the Teacher Do? The teacher includes the whole class in the observing of the fish,
allowing the whole class over a two week period to take part in the study and observation.
The Teacher will check the students observation notes to see if the students are grasping what is
being taught.
The teacher will go over the lesson plan prior to the beginning of the observation and after to
make sure the students are following the check list.
The teacher will praise the class for any successes and go over things, which have been missed.
What does the Students Do?
The students will follow all observation guide lines, check lists, and tell the teacher if any
problems arise. The students will observe the fish in groups of four and allow every student in
the group to help in the observation, including, any comments that help with the observation.
The students will also behave themselves when observing the gold fish, no fighting, pushing and
shoving, or language which is inappropriate, and follow all classroom rules.
Assessment (tied to Objectives):
All groups will turn in their observation notes before the next subject, so the teacher can go over
them before the next day.

At the end of the two week observation period the teacher will grade the observation notes and
hand them back to the students. There will be a test over what the students learned over the two
week observation period.
Adaption and/or Modifications(if Needed): If a physical observation cannot be done then the
students will go to their respective computers in class and perform the observation using the
appropriate software and do the lesson and all assessments on the computer.