Lesson Plan Guide

Teacher Candidate:

Kaelyn Knight

Grade and Topic:

Grade 4, Natural Resources in Americans Lives

Length of Lesson:

1 hour 15 minutes

Mentor Teacher:
School:

Peggy Murdoc, Marla Phillips

University of Memphis- IDT 3600

Date: 04/27/16

UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:

Earth and Space Science
Standard 7 The Earth
LESSON OBJECTIVE:
With complete understanding, a 4th grade student will discuss the products humans can create from
natural resources.
Given an object, a 4th grade student will write about what raw materials the object is made of with
100% accuracy.
Using online research, a 4th grade student will create and publish a website about natural resources with
100% accuracy.
Student Participation
Students will work together to create a website.
Students will participate in a classroom discussion by answering questions and providing their input.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED:
GLE 0407.7.2 Evaluate how some earth materials can be used to solve human problems and enhance the
quality of life.
SPI 0407.7.2 Analyze how different earth materials are utilized to solve human problems or improve the
quality of life.
ISTE Standard(s)
1. Creativity and Innovation - Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop
innovative products and processes using technology.
a. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
3. Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather,

evaluate, and use information.

b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information

from a variety of sources and media

c.Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the

appropriateness to specific tasks

 d. Process data and report results

MATERIALS:
handout
The Giving Tree
Students will use technology to publish a website. The sites listed below will be used to research material, type
information, and add images to an online website creator. Students will use email to send the link to their site to
the teacher.
computer

http://education.weebly.com
http://www.madehow.com
http://classroomclipart.com

email
http://education.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/human-footprint-interactive/

BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:

Everything humans use comes from natural resources. Therefore, students will demonstrate a clear
understanding of how natural resources are used in America in our everyday activities.
Academic Language is not addressed in IDT 3600.
This lesson builds on a previous lesson on natural resources. Students were assigned to create a journal
and document every item they used, wore, or ate for one day. Students will use that journal today to
complete the assignment in this lesson.
In the next lessons, the class will discuss mans impact on natural resources. We will discuss
conservation and actions individuals can take to protect natural resources.
Differentiated activities and assessments will be planned so that students are presented the materials in
several ways. By doing this, every student has an opportunity to learn the material and be assessed
appropriately for their needs.
PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:
Introduction:
Review of natural resources, renewable resources, and nonrenewable resources (5 minutes)
Teacher reads The Giving Tree to the class (15 minutes)
Discussion of The Giving Tree:
How did the tree provide for the boy?
What happened to the try by the end of the story?

Procedures:
Prior to the Computer (10 minutes)
Teachers Procedure
1. After the introduction, the teacher will lead a short discussion about the items that students
logged in their journals.
What are some natural resources we use everyday?
What are some of the products we used everyday? What are they made out of?
What natural resource are you wearing today?
2. Explanation of assignment and pass out handout.
Students Procedure

1. Take out journals. If a student forgot his/her journal or did not complete the assignment, student
will quickly write down 20 things used in the classroom.
2. Students pair up and quietly move to designated computer.
At the Computer (45 minutes)
Teachers Procedure
1. Monitor and assist as needed.
Students Procedure
1.
Access education.weebly.com.
2. Create a new website titled Natural Resources in My Life.
3. Use prior knowledge and the internet to answer questions on the handout. Answers will be typed
on to Weebly site.
4. Select 5 items journaled and use madehow.com to research what raw materials the items are made
of and how these items enhance the quality of life. Type responses on to site.
5. Find images online using classroomclipart.com or another source.
6. Use changes in font and color.
7. Check for grammar and spelling errors.
8. Publish site.
9. Email teacher link.

Closure:
After Computer (10 minutes)
Students return back to desks.
Class discussion about website assignment.
After learning what raw materials our products are made of, why are natural resources so important?
What would our life look like if we didn't have the resources we have to make these items?
Referring back to The Giving Tree, what happens when we use to much of a product?
What happens when that product is non-renewable?
Get students to start thinking about mans influence on natural resources and conservation.

ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:

Overall Site

The site is organized

well and easy to
follow. There are 3 or
more pictures and
changes in fonts and
color

The site is somewhat

organized. There is 23 pictures and change
in fonts and color.

The site is hard to

follow. There are 1-2
pictures and no
change in font in and
color.

The site is very

difficult to follow.
There are no pictures
or changes in fonts
and colors.

Questions

Answers are complete

original thoughts and
2-3 sentences long.
Information is correct.

Answers are 2-3

sentences long. Most
of the information is
correct.

Answers are less than

2 sentences. Some of
the information is
correct.

Answers are 1-2

sentences long. The
information is
incorrect or it was
copied straight from
the internet.

5 items

5 items researched
and pictures were
included for each.
Answers are 3-5
sentences long and
includes what the item
is made of and how it
is useful.

4-5 items researched

and there is a picture
for each. Answers
have some
information missing.

2-3 items researched

and missing pictures.
Answers are less than
3 sentences in length
and have information
missing.

2 or less items
researched. No
pictures. Answers are
2 sentences or less in
length and information
is missing.

There are a little to

none spelling or
grammar errors.

There are some

spelling or grammar
errors.

There are many

spelling or grammar
errors.

There are several

spelling or grammar
errors.

Particpation

Student worked with

partner and put forth
equal effort to
complete assignment.
Student participated in
class discussion.

Student mostly
worked with partner
and participated in
class discussion.

Student completed
some of the
assignment. Student
did not participate in
class discussion.

Student let the partner

complete the majority
of the assignment and
did not participate in
class discussion.

Total Points
Possible - 25

5 points

Spelling/Grammar
Erros

4 points

3 points

2 points

MODIFICATIONS:
Advanced students will be given more challenging and thought provoking questions to answer for the
website.
Students who are absent will complete the activity at home. If a student does not have access to a
computer, short periods of time will be allotted to the student to complete the assignment in class.
If students finish early, there is an alternative activity that can be completed at the end of the website
assignment.

HANDOUT:

Weebly Website Assignment

You have been learning all about how natural resources improve the quality of our everyday life in America.
You are going to use your log of items you used in a day to create an online website on Weebly and publish all
the information you have been learning!
2.
3.
4.
5.

Login in to computer and access education.weebly.com

Create a new site.
This site will be titled Natural Resources in My Life. Put your names below the title.
Now you will begin the creation of your site! You may choose to layout out your website however you like.
Make sure the information is organized and easy to follow or points will be deducted.
6. Below is the information you must have on your site to receive full credit.
1. Answer the following questions in 2-3 complete sentences. Type the questions and answers onto your
site. You may use your own knowledge or the internet for research. Do not copy a site verbatim or
points will be deducted.
What is a natural resource?
What is a renewable resource?
What is a nonrenewable resource?
Why are natural resources important?
2. Briefly discuss in 2-3 sentences your journal activity. Provide a list of at least 20 items you and your
partner used in one day.
3. Select 5 of the items.
4. Using the search engine on madehow.com, you and your partner will research the 5 items of your
choice. For each item you will include the raw materials the item is made of and how that product
betters human life in 3-5 sentences. Include a picture of the item or raw material.

5. Use changes in font, changes in color, and at least 3 extra pictures to enhance your overall website.
You can find pictures online or use classroomclipart.com.
6. Check for spelling/grammar mistakes. Also, check the rubric to make sure you have met all the
requirements.
7. Once completed, publish the site and copy the link.
8. In an email, send the link to me, keknight@memphis.edu. Write Natural Resource Site in the subject
line.
7. If you and your partner get finished early, you may quietly do this interactive online activity.
http://education.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/human-footprint-interactive/

RUBRIC

STUDENT SAMPLE:

http://naturalresouces-kaelynknight.weebly.com