Science Challenge

1. Students will view a powerpoint presentation created by the teacher. The powerpoint will be about four habitats, wetlands, rainforest, forest, desert, and the characteristics of those habitats. After having presented information on each particular habitat, the teacher will present information (and pictures in the powerpoint presentation) of different animals that live in that habitat and why. During the powerpoint presentation, students will be taking brief notes on the habitats and animals. They will also be actively participating when the teacher asks for questions and comments. After having gone through all four habitats, their characteristics, animals in that habitat, and why the animals live there, students will have the opportunity to practice identifying animals and what habitats they belong in. Using Kidspiration, students will place a minimum of four different animals in the correct habitat. After placing four animals in each habitat, students will show a partner what animal they put where and why. While students are using Kidspiration, the teacher can be walking around the room answering questions or offering up comments on students progress. When students are talking with their partners, they can ask the teacher for clarification if there is a disagreement.
2.

• The content we are focusing on is Grade 2nd Standard 3 student will develop an understanding of their environment. Objective 1 investigate relationships between plants and animals and how living things change during their lives. a. observe and describe the relationships of plants and animals.
• The pedagogy we will be using is classifying. This will be a good fit because student will have the opportunity to express their knowledge of animals and the environments they belong in. More specifically students will be using concept maps to help them identify animals and the environments they belong in. Concept maps will help students make connections and see how different animals and environments relate.
  
• The technology we will be using is Kidspiration. This program will work well because it gives us a chance to assess whether or not the students have understood the content. The program works well with our pedagogy because students can classify animals into their individual environments. The program also provides many examples for the students, examples that they might not otherwise come into contact with.
  
• We will be using a visual representation to help students understand the relationships between animals and their environment. The technology will help students understand the content better because it will provide them with the visual images of the environment and the animals. Being able to connect the animals with the correct environment visually as well as verbally is an important skill. It will also provide the student will new and different examples for them to learn from.