TPACK Lesson Plan

TPACK Lesson Plan

Mrs. Winters 3^rd Grade Class
Lesson Plan: Science-Endangered Species
Overview: The purpose of this lesson is to teach students about Endangered Species. This unit on endangered species is to promote awareness of them, as well as way we can protect animals from extinction. Most all children have a fascination with animals and wildlife. I hope this unit will provide them with new and interesting information. Students will choose an endangered animal and complete a report about their chosen animal. They will create a poster board filled with facts and pictures of the animal they chose. Their will also create a 3D model of their animal and share their project with the class. After the lesson is complete, each student will get to keep their 3D animal.

 Objectives: By the end of this, students will be able to define endangered species and identify several endangered species. Students will learn ways to help save threatened and endangered species.

Materials and Resources:

•          Smartboard

•          “Endangered Animal!” video-https://youtu.be/7k8CcAU2Lt0

•          Endangered Species power point

•          Tablets-epic App

•          “Spirit Bear” book by Jennifer Harrington

•          Poster Boards

•          Markers

•          3D printer

•          Endangered Species Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle

•          Kahoot quiz-https://create.kahoot.it/share/3rd-grade-endangered-animals/58a5a836-ddd0-48df-b611-3dd030ace170

Instruction
Introduction: To begin this lesson, I will start by asking my students if they know what an endangered species is. I will tell them that an endangered species is any species that is at risk of extinction because of a sudden rapid decrease in its population or a loss of its critical habitat. I will then ask them if they know of any endangered species. After our discussion, I will show them “Endangered Animals!” video from YouTube. (Visual, Auditory)

Instructional Process: I will state that it has been estimating that a fifth of the world’s mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish are in imminent danger of becoming extinct. There are more than 1,300 species listed as threatened or endangered in the United States. I will show the students a power point using the smartboard. I will go over several different animals that are endangered. After the power point, I will ask the students to choose an endangered animal. I will tell them they are going to complete a research project over the animal they choose. Students will research their chosen animal and create a report which will include one or more pictures, description of an animal, where the animal lives, why it is endangered, and conservation efforts to protect the animal, if any.

•          Activity 1- Students will research their animal that they chose on their tablets. I will instruct them to use the epic app to find books about their animal. They will also need to print out photos of their animal. After the students have found some interesting information on the species of choice. I will ask them to create a poster with few facts and pictures about that species. (Visual, Kinesthetic)
•          Activity 2- I will start this activity by reading the book “Spirit Bear” by Jennifer Harrington. It is the story of Annuk, a white bear cub (a “spirit bear”), who one fateful day is swept away in the river and must make his way back home through the rainforest to his mother.  In his journey, he must face the dangers of the forest, with help from an unexpected new friend – Kaya, a sea wolf pup. It is a story of perseverance and bravery, of friendship and trust.  Moreover, the beautiful wildlife illustrations introduce children to 22 animals from the Great Bear Rainforest in Western Canada, many of whom are endangered. Once I finish reading this book, I will let the students continue to work on their poster board.  (Visual, Auditory)
  
•        Activity 3-I will explain to the students that we will be using the school’s 3D printer to create their own 3D model of their animal. Students will use Tinkercad to help create their animal. I will encourage them to try and make a realistic looking model not something that looks like a cartoon. After the students have created their animal, we will print their models. They can use markers for details like eyes, stripes, etc. (Visual, Kinesthetic)
  
•        Activity 4- I will go over important vocabulary to know for endangered species. I will give each student an Endangered Species Vocabulary crossword puzzle. Students will present their research projects and 3D models to their classmates. (Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic)
  

Closure: After this unit, I will make sure each student has a good understanding of Endangered Species. I will answer any questions the students may have.
Assessment: The student will be able to define endangered species and identify several endangered species. The student will also learn ways to help save threatened and endangered species.
     - Each student will be given a quiz on Kahoot. There will be 10 multiple choice questions         about Endangered Species.

Duration of this lesson: 4-5 days

3D Printing

3D printing is a family of processes that produces objects by adding material in layers that correspond to successive cross-sections of a 3D model. Plastics and metal alloys are the most commonly used materials for 3D printing. This kind of technology opens up new possibilities and exploration of objects. I think 3D printing is amazing technology. It can be used in so many ways like making shoes, houses, healthcare materials and many more things. I believe there would be a lot of benefits of having a 3D printer in the school. 3D printing technology could position students as creators. What inventions could students create given the right tools, resources, and support? I believe this technology would bring art back to the classrooms. With 3D printing, students can become designers and creators using cutting-edge technology to visualize and create their own imaginations. 3D printing technology would be a wonderful new way to teach and motivate students. This would help make everything hands-on. 3D printing is a technology that scientists and engineers are using to change the world. If we could put this technology into the hands of our students and introduce them to some of the challenges facing our community. By this they would learn empathy, teamwork, and problem-solving. A 3D printer could be used in all subjects. I really liked exploring all the great inventions on Thingiverse. I also really loved the Smithsonian 3D site. It is so amazing to see history come to life. Students would love both of these websites.

3 Articles

TPACK
    Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) is a framework to understand and describe the kinds of knowledge needed by a teacher for effective pedagogical practice in a technology-enhanced learning environment. The TPACK framework looks at the relationships between technology, pedagogy, and content.

• Since technology is advancing every day, how are teachers suppose to keep up with it all in the classroom?
• As teachers, how do we learn how to apply TPACK skills?

Net Generation
    Net generation is the generation of youth which is growing up with modern information and communication technologies shaping strongly their mental models. 

• Each generation has its own distinct characteristics, so how did the people born before 1984 learn how to use technology?
• If teachers are not properly taught how to use technology, how are they suppose to be an effective teacher?

Teaching and Technology-Apple

• Will students become more dependent on technology rather than pen and paper?
• Will teacher/student interaction decrease with all the use of technology?
• Are people losing their ability to physical write something down on paper?
• Will schools go to online learning instead of face to face learning?

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is great tool for teachers. I believe it is easy to navigate for teachers, students, and parents. Google Classroom enables teachers to create an online classroom area in which they can manage all the documents that their students need. Through google classroom teachers can make assignments, make announcements, store classroom materials, and allow student to interact. The main thing you, as the teacher, will do with google classroom is making homework assignments for your students When you create an assignment, you can upload the necessary documents for the students to read or work on. Students receive e-mail notification of new assignment. The students turn in the assignments when finished, and you can then grade the assignments. If you have a quick announcement for the entire class, you can quickly type in the announcement, which is e-mailed to all your students in the class. The materials you add to an assignment aren't the only documents you can store. You can store any other necessary documents for students on Google Drive. Students have the ability to comment on assignments and announcements, as well as e-mail each other through the classroom interface. For students, I believe Google Classroom engages them. Google Classroom keeps students organized when assignments are due, and upcoming assignments. They can also keep up with their grades. For parents, Google Classroom is easy for them to access to see their child's accomplishments, view class announcements, and to see their child's grades. Google Classroom is beneficial for all teachers, students, and parents because it is a great communication tool. I love learning how to use google classroom because it is a great resource for classrooms.

How Technology Changes Our Life

May 18, 2020

     I believe technology has changed our lives and reshaped the way we live it. I love technology most of the time, but I also get frustrated with it also. Technology has created a whole new world and brought endless opportunities.

     Technology is used by teachers to enhance their lessons. They can make the lesson more interactive and interesting for students. Technology has changed the way we communicate. I believe technology has made it easier to communicate anywhere and anytime but because technology has become so easy we tend to neglect a face to face conversation with our family and friends. Technology has diversified the entertainment world. We can download our favorite music on the internet and watch movies online instead of going to the move theater. I believe medicine has changed with the use of powerful equipment and technology.

     In one of the videos I watched there were adults and children talking about what they did for fun as kids. All of the adults talked about all the fun outdoor activities they did as children. The younger kids talked about how they constantly need technology to have fun. I found myself relating to the older generation because when I was younger I did not have technology like they do now. I was always outside playing. Now I am raising my kids with all of this technology. Most of the time I do not have to argue with them about technology because they love to be outside playing and I am glad. In the other video, it shows how technology has hijacked family dinners. I agree that technology has and that is why any time my family eats at the table all electronics are off. I believe this is a great time to interact with your family.

     In conclusion, there is no doubt that life has become easier with the use of technology. I believe technology is relevant in every area of our lives.