Ideas for teaching about vertebrates (lesson plan)

Lesson Plan

Grade level: Grade 4 (Elementary – 2^nd cycle)

Duration: 50min

Procedure: (Using ASSURE Model)

1.      Analyze the reader’s background:

Before starting the lesson the teacher starts asking the students about some common characteristics between different kinds of animals, whose names (or images) would be shown on a PowerPoint presentation or simply written on the board. These questions would enable her to analyze the student’s background so as to know where to start from.

For example, she could ask questions like:

·         What does the word vertebrates mean?

·         Show me your vertebral column on your body.

·         How are dogs, cats, human beings, whales, etc. common?

·         How are crocodiles, snakes, turtles, etc. common?

·         Where can we find frogs? Salamanders? Etc.

Note: the teacher can continue asking similar questions for the different group, by emphasizing her questions on habitat, mode of reproduction, anatomy of the groups, etc.

2.      Stating Objectives:

·         Students will be able to define the word “vertebrates” without using the handouts, with 90% accuracy.

·         Students will be able to list similarities between different animals without using the bulletin board, with 80% accuracy.

·         Using the bulletin board, students will be able to analyze the characteristics of each of the five different groups with 80% accuracy.

·         Using the bulletin board, students will be able to identify and compare the differences between these groups with 90% accuracy.

·         Using the bulletin board, students will be able to draw a checklist of the five groups with 80% accuracy.

3.      Select the appropriate media and materials: textual and visual media

·         Bulletin board

·         Notebook

·         Handouts

·         Gadgets of small animals and small baskets.

4.      Utilize media: By getting the bulletin board into class (or posters found in lab, if any), and placing the gadgets of animals with the small baskets on the teacher’s desk.

5.      Require student participation: Students will participate by themselves identifying the similarities and differences of the different animals by analyzing the common and different characteristics of each. Then, they will place and classify them into 5 different groups.

6.      Evaluate and review:

·         A short checklist will be created by the teacher (with the student’s help) to make a summary of the differences between the five groups of the vertebrates.

·         A short assessment will be provided by the teacher to the students, where they will be able to place the different animal gadgets into groups in 5 different colorful baskets.

·         Students could also be asked to prepare a project (model or PowerPoint), if interested.