Animal Research Spreadsheet Lesson Plan

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Willa Amy Heath
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1 Animal Research Spreadsheet Lesson Plan Title: Animal Research Spreadsheet Grade Range: 2-5 Integrated Curriculum Area: Math Concepts and Competencies: Data Tables Tool: Spreadsheet Software Language Arts Research Summary: Students collect animal research and organize it using a spreadsheet. Warm-up Make sure students have completed the EasyTech lesson prerequisites for this activity (see Activity Detail Page at Brainstorm a list of animals students might be interested in researching. Show students a map or globe and discuss the different continents. Write Native Continent on the board for students to see. Explain that animals originate from different continental regions of the world. Write the word habitat on the board. Share with students that an animal s habitat is the natural surroundings in which it lives. For example, the duck-billed platypus habitat is in fresh water lakes and streams in Australia. Write the word diet on the board. Explain that the word diet refers to what an animal eats. For example, a squirrel s diet consists mostly of nuts and seeds. Choose a couple of animals to briefly research as a whole group. Use books to model for students how to find the animal s native continent, habitat, and diet. Activity Students will use a spreadsheet to create a data table for the animals they chose to research: Students select seven animals to research in the library or on the web. Students will complete the Student Activity Page by researching each animal s native continent, habitat, and diet. Review the skills learned in the assigned EasyTech lessons and the functionality of the specific spreadsheet application students will be using. Show students the Model of the data table created using a spreadsheet program. Students input their data into a spreadsheet, save it, and then print. Wrap-up Write the names of the continents on the board. Ask students to share one of the animals they chose to research and that animal s native continent. As each student shares, write the animal s name under its appropriate continent and point to the continent on the map. Extension Students choose another animal to study and select additional fields to research. After students have finished their research, they can use that information to write a report.

2 Name Animal Research Spreadsheet Student Activity Page Make a list of seven different animals you would like to research: Here is a model of a data table: Animal Native Continent Habitat Diet Wild pigs, deer, large Jaguar South America Forests, swamps rodents, fish Manatee Rivers, bays, coastal waters Marine and freshwater plants Zebra Africa Mountain regions Grasses Koala Bear Australia Eucalyptus forests, coastal islands Eagle Panda Asia Penguin Antarctica Sea islands mountains, rivers, lakes Bamboo and coniferous forests Fish, waterfowl, small to medium mammals Flowers, vines, grass, honey, rodents Krill, squid, shrimp, small fish Create an animal facts data table using the research you collected: Animal Native Continent Habitat Diet continued

3 Here is a model of an animal facts spreadsheet: A B C D 1 Animal Research 2 Animal Native Continent Habitat Diet 3 Jaguar South America Forests, swamps Wild pigs, deer, large rodents, fish 4 Manatee River, bays, coastal waterways Marine and freshwater plants 5 Zebra Africa Mountain regions Grasses 6 Koala Bear Australia Eucalyptus forests, coastal islands 7 Eagle 8 Panda Asia mountains, rivers, lakes Bamboo and coniferous forests Fish, waterfowl, small to medium mammals Flowers, vines, grass, honey, rodents 9 Penguins Antarctica Sea islands Krill, squid, shrimp, small fish Use the information from your animal facts data table to create an animal facts spreadsheet: A B C D Now you are ready to create an animal facts spreadsheet with a spreadsheet program.

4 Animal Research Spreadsheet Model Animal Native Continent Habitat Jaguar South America Forests, swamps Manatee Rivers, bays, coastal waters Diet Wild pigs, deer, large rodents, fish Marine and freshwater plants Zebra Africa Mountain regions Grasses Eucalyptus forests, Koala Bear Australia coastal islands Eagle Panda Asia mountains, rivers, lakes Bamboo and coniferous forests Penguin Antarctica Sea islands Fish, waterfowl, small to medium mammals Flowers, vines, grass, honey, rodents Krill, squid, shrimp, small fish

5 Name Animal Research Spreadsheet Rubric Self-Evaluation Student Activity Page: Seven different animals chosen Data table includes headings Data table includes animal fact research Paper spreadsheet accurately completed (including title) Spreadsheet: Title centered and cells merged Each column heading labeled Each animal row labeled Animal facts correctly placed in cells No spelling errors Teacher Evaluation Student Activity Page: Seven different animals chosen Data table includes headings Data table includes animal fact research Paper spreadsheet accurately completed (including title) Spreadsheet: Title centered and cells merged Each column heading labeled Each animal row labeled Animal facts correctly placed in cells No spelling errors

SKILL: LEARN LION F MORGAN-CAIN & ASSOCIATES

SKILL: LEARN LION F MORGAN-CAIN & ASSOCIATES Lion facts: Lions live in groups called prides. A lion litter has 1-4 cubs in it. The females hunt at dusk or night. The lion s great physical strength puts it at the top of the food chain. Lions rest