Zoo Animal Experts
Created By:
Carl A. Harvey II
Title/Role:
School Librarian
Organization/School Name:
North Elementary School
Location:
Indiana
Grade Level:
K Type of Lesson:
Lesson in a unit Type of Schedule:
Flexible Collaboration Continuum:
Intensive Content Area:
Language Arts, Science Content Topic:
Zoo Animals Scenario:
The final unit in Kindergarten each year focuses on zoo animals. The culminating event is a field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. During the unit the classroom is immersed in zoo animals. This project focuses on each student becoming an expert about one of the animals they will see on their visit. Since many Kindergartners are just beginning to read, this activity focuses on pictures and images as a source for information. The lesson focuses on non-fiction text as one place where students can get information. The school librarian and teachers planned the project together. Throughout the year the school librarian and classroom teachers have done a few whole group projects with the students, but in this instance each kid is now working with their own animal. Our schedule is set-up so that we can work everyday on this project for an entire week. The school librarian and classroom teachers wanted to give them a real strong grounding in finding information, comparing it with their classmates, and then create a simple way for them to share what they located. Overview:
Essential Question(s): Where can I learn more about zoo animals? How can I get information beyond just information text?
The essential element of this project was 1.) students would learn about an animal they will find at the zoo and 2.) students would learn how to get information from photographs and beginning non-fiction text. Final Product:
The final products are two fold:
1.) The students keep a journal to keep track of the information they gather. As part of the journal, they also pair up and compare their animal with one of their classmates. What is the same about it? What is different?
2.) Students also create a trading card in the computer lab that shares the information they located as well as draws an image/picture of the animal. Library Lesson:
Kindergartners visit the library for 4 days in a row for this project. Each visit is approximately 45 minutes. This includes time to create the trading card at the end, too.
Visit 1 - Beginning our Journal
Visit 2 - Finishing up our Basic Information
Visit 3 - Comparison of our animal with a classmates
Visit 4 - Trading Card
The school librarian and classroom teachers guide the students in completing the journal. The students are guided through the process of locating the information they need in the non-fiction books. The school librarian and classroom teacher focus on how the images in the non-fiction text can help students learn the basics about their zoo animal. Students learn how to find that information in the text. They learn how to keep track of it. They learn how to compare what they found with their neighbors. Finally they work on a trading card to share what they learned. Estimated Lesson Time:
45 minutes Have you taught this lesson before:
Yes