Lesson one Day one

Daily topic: Spring Science The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Objectives: The learner will define new vocabulary words. The learner will create labeled drawings of the
stages of the life cycle of a plant using Kidpix and a color printer. The learner will use new vocabulary words as
labels in drawings. The learner will collaborate with peers to arrange each others drawings in the correct order.
Procedures:
Whole Group
1. I will show a video of Eric Carles book The Tiny Seed, which can be found at
http://www.schooltube.com/video/19449682487a7b3c3a47/The-Tiny-Seed.
2. I will facilitate a discussion on the video and include the following questions: What did you learn about
the life cycle of plants from this video? What happened to the other seeds and why? Did the size of the
seed matter, why or why not? Could this story happen in real life, why or why not? How could this story
have ended differently?
3. I will tell the students they will design pictures of the plant life cycle in Kidpix in the computer lab. I
will tell the students they must label the pictures with appropriate vocabulary from the story. * I will
show my students examples I created in Kidpix.
4. I will hand out the assessment rubric for this activity and answer any questions.
Independent
5. I will take my students to the computer lab. Students will use Kidpix to create labeled drawings.
Students will print their pictures on the color printer.
Small Group
6. Upon returning to class, students will pair up with another student of their choice and swap pictures.
Students will then arrange their partners picture in the correct order of the plant life cycle. Students
will give feedback to their partner and provide at least two comments to their partner, one comment
about something they liked in their partners drawings, and one suggestion to improve their drawings.
7. Students will repeat step 6 until they have worked with at least three other students of their choice.
Whole Group
8. I will call students to the rug and facilitate a discussion on the activity. I will include the following
questions: What did you learn from this activity? Do you think you could explain the plant life cycle to a
friend who did not know about it? What was your favorite part of this activity? What was the most
challenging part of this activity? If you could change anything about this activity, what would it be?
Independent
9. Students will glue their drawings onto construction paper sequentially and I will display their work.
Assessment
10. I will assess their work using the rubric and meet with each student to discuss their grade.
Materials: Internet access, computers, color printer, scissors, glue, construction paper, headphones.
Differentiation: Lower ability students will be seated in close proximity to each other in the computer lab so the
teacher can work with them as a group. Higher ability students will be asked higher order thinking questions in
whole group and challenged to defend their answers using accurate scientific reasoning. ESL students will
listen to the story in Spanish on headphones while in the computer lab, and will be given extra time as needed to
complete the Kidpix pictures. ESL students will choose to label pictures in English or Spanish.
Rubric: see attached

Collaborative Work Skills : Life Cycle of a Plant Activity

Focus on the task

Attitude

Working with Others Contributions

Time-management

Quality of
Work

Teacher Name: Ms. Bourg

Student Name: ________________________________________
4 Exceeds
3 Meets
2 Meets some
Expectations
Expectations
Expectations
Provides work of
Provides high
Provides work that
the highest quality. quality work.
occasionally needs to be
checked/redone by other
group members to ensure
quality.
Routinely uses time Usually uses time
Tends to procrastinate, but
well throughout the well throughout the
always gets things done by
project to ensure
project, but may
the deadlines. Group does
things get done on
have procrastinated
not have to adjust
time. Group does
on one thing. Group deadlines or work
not have to adjust
does not have to
responsibilities because of
deadlines or work
adjust deadlines or
this person\'s
responsibilities
work responsibilities procrastination.
because of this
because of this
person\'s
person\'s
procrastination.
procrastination.
Routinely provides Usually provides
Sometimes provides useful
useful ideas when
useful ideas when
ideas when participating in
participating in the
participating in the
the group and in classroom
group and in
group and in
discussion. A satisfactory
classroom
classroom
group member who does
discussion. A
discussion. A strong what is required.
definite leader who group member who
contributes a lot of
tries hard!
effort.
Almost always
Usually listens to,
Often listens to, shares
listens to, shares
shares, with, and
with, and supports the
with, and supports
supports the efforts
efforts of others, but
the efforts of
of others. Does not
sometimes is not a good
others. Tries to
cause \"waves\" in
team member.
keep people
the group.
working well
together.
Never is publicly
Rarely is publicly
Occasionally is publicly
critical of the
critical of the project critical of the project or
project or the work or the work of
the work of other members
of others. Always
others. Often has a
of the group. Usually has a
has a positive
positive attitude
positive attitude about the
attitude about the
about the task(s).
task(s).
task(s).
Consistently stays
Focuses on the task
Focuses on the task and
focused on the task and what needs to be what needs to be done
and what needs to
done most of the
some of the time. Other
be done. Very self- time. Other group
group members must
directed.
members can count
sometimes nag, prod, and
on this person.
remind to keep this person
on-task.

1Does not meet any

Expectations
Provides work that usually needs
to be checked/redone by others
to ensure quality.

Rarely gets things done by the

deadlines AND group has to
adjust deadlines or work
responsibilities because of this
person\'s inadequate time
management.

Rarely provides useful ideas

when participating in the group
and in classroom discussion.
May refuse to participate.

Rarely listens to, shares with,

and supports the efforts of
others. Often is not a good team
player.

Often is publicly critical of the

project or the work of other
members of the group. Often has
a negative attitude about the
task(s).

Rarely focuses on the task and

what needs to be done. Lets
others do the work.

Sample Kidpix Life Cycle of a Plant

Use Kidpix to draw the seed stage of a plant here. Include

colors and sizes that are appropriate.

Use Kidpix to draw the seeds with roots stage of a plant here.
Include colors and sizes that are appropriate.

Use Kidpix to draw the seedling with leaf stage of a plant

here. Include colors and sizes that are appropriate.

Use Kidpix to draw the young plant stage of a plant here.

Include colors and sizes that are appropriate.