Lesson Title

Build a Model Fish

Grade/Subject

Grade 4 / Science

Lesson Objective(s)

Content Objectives

- Research the way an animal that lives in the ocean looks

- Explain and demonstrate that animal’s appearance

Technology Objectives

- Use the Internet to find examples of photos that show sea life

- Use a VHS camera to preserve the demonstration given and to use that video for later discussion and critique

Correlations to National/State/District Curriculum

(be specific – grade, subject, letter/number)

•NJCCCS 5.7: All students will investigate the diversity of life.

•Indicator 4: Identify and describe external features of plants and animals that help them survive in varied habitats

Technology Materials Needed

(include hardware and software)

Hardware

- Internet-capable, multimedia workstation

- Video camera

- Tripod

- VCR

- Blank video tapes

- Television

- Connection/presentation device

Software

- Resources list (Word document)

Other Materials Needed

- Banner paper

- Paint or crayons

- Yarn

- Magic markers

- Newspaper

- Scissors

- Hole puncher

Time Required

3 weeks at 1 full hour per class, per day

Procedure (number steps)

1. Introduce project, rubric, and journal aspects; students are paired by teacher; discuss briefly, then choose an fish as a subject

2. Research begins: students gather examples of illustrated fish from Internet research

3. Introduce techniques of making the fish model

4. Students create their model, using banner paper, newspaper and magic markers, as well as what they know about sea life and the appearance of fish

5. Presentation of models while the presentations are videotaped by students who have not chosen this culminating project

Assessment

A project rubric will be used to communicate criteria and assess model projects

Which multiple intelligences were addressed?  How were they addressed?

•Naturalistic: appreciate and describe similarities and differences in sea animals

•Logical/mathematical: measure and scale their models for anatomical appropriateness of feature

•Linguistic: read about sea life, keep a journal of project progress

•Spatial: visualize and create model parts

•Interpersonal: rehearse the presentation with a videotaping partner

Short Description of How This Lesson Addresses the Concepts of Constructivist Learning Theory

This project, in the process of its unfolding, is a model constructivist activity. The students will first Encounter and identify the instructional task as the teacher introduces it and the rubric. They will Explore and get directly involved with sea life. They will formulate an Explanation for the appearance of an undersea creature. They will Elaborate and expand on the concepts of form and locomotion to apply their understandings to the appearance of animals on dry land. The performance task of the fish model project will allow the teacher to Evaluate and assess the understandings uncovered.