Lesson Plans

Here is the link to my lesson plans on google docs:
Science: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc3hgqkq_875c3f9cv
Math: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc3hgqkq_7g85k8md6
Language Arts: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc3hgqkq_6cd8wzrfh

Week 10 Video Response

I think that the most important thing I learned from watching these videos is that technology can be used in the classroom even with young children. I have been feeling like the lessons I have planned thus far in our IP&T class have focused more on the upper grades in elementary school and I was having a hard time thinking of how I could write three lesson plans and implement one in the first grade classroom I am currently in. These videos demonstrated that, as a teacher, you can be the one to teach young children how to use technology. I think that my fear was that the students would not be familiar with computers and I would have to teach them the basics of how to even use a mouse. These videos showed that you can be the one to teach them that. I was inspired at how these teachers used technology even in kindergarten classrooms.

Technology Survey

In working at a Title I school, I went in expecting some extras in technology availability that may not have been at a different school. However, since I am in a first grade classroom, my teacher does not use the technology that is available and she was not aware of everything that is available to her. In talking with other faculty at the school, I found that Geneva Elementary has two classroom laptop carts, a classroom IPod touch set, as well as a classroom set of Nintendo DS. This really interested me and I was surprised to find out that the older classes take spelling tests on individual IPods and do math on the Nintendos. It is very cool to see different ways technology can be used for education.

I completed the midcourse evaluation as well as the informed consent.

Science Activity

Science Planning

I am very excited to do this science activity! Here is my plan for a lesson on gravity.

CONTENT: 3rd Grade Science Core, Standard Four: Students will understand that objects near Earth are pulled toward Earth by gravity.
I would like to include both objectives:
1. Demonstrate that gravity is a force
2. Describe the effects of gravity on the motion of an object

PEDAGOGY: I will teach a lesson defining gravity. I will include an interactive activity where the children can try dropping different items to see the difference in gravity's pull on each object. I will point out that some items fall faster than others and ask why they think that is. After observing, I will have students conduct an inquiry project by filling out the OWL chart (Observe, Wonder, Learned). In the "Observe" category, I will have them explain or draw what they observed during the lesson. I will then have the students write a question about gravity in the "Wonder" category. They will then be responsible to research, experiment, etc to find the answer to their question and record it in the "Learned" category. After they have finished their OWL chart, I will have the students complete the activity on Kidspiration about gravity to assess if they have a true understanding of the concept. I believe this pedagogy will help students learn the concept of gravity because they will: first, be able to see gravity in action; second, be able to research a question of their own and discover that gravity has a different affect on everything; third, be able to demonstrate their knowledge of gravity and its effect on different things by completing an activity on Kidspiration. My lesson plan encourages students to ask questions about the environment and plan a simple investigation, as the National Science Standards state is suitable for Grades K-4.

TECHNOLOGY: I will be using Kidspiration for this lesson. I will use two activities form the Science category. The first is the OWL chart that the students will use to complete their inquiry assignment. The second activity is "Gravity Pulls" which I will use as a way to assess student learning. This technology works perfectly with the pedagogy and content because it supports my efforts as a teacher to help my students investigate and become independent learners. The gravity activity also helps students to see if they really understood the content. If they have misconceptions regarding gravity, it will become apparent in the activity provided by Kidspiration.

The Virtual Tours of My Classmates

I watched the Virtual Tours of:
Marni Story
Ashley Howden
Alyssa Young

Each of these Tours differed from my own. I was excited to see what types of tools on Google Earth other classmates were able to make use of. I enjoyed these Virtual Tours.

Virtual Tour

Yay! Finally finished. :)

My Virtual Tour is called Utah's Wetlands, Forests, and Deserts.

The link to it is:

http://sites.google.com/site/carmensfilecabinet/ipt-class/Utah%27sWetlands%2CForests%2CandDesertsAVirtualTour.kmz?attredirects=0&d=1