Software Lesson Plan Science Seekers
	Introduction The software lesson plan comes from the Science Seekers software program and would be applicable to fifth grade. It can be used as a cross-curricular activity with Science and Language Arts. The Science Seekers software challenges students to figure out why a population of California sea otters is declining. This connects well with two of our Science units that deal with vertebrates and invertebrates. Another connection can be made with our Language Arts curriculum where we have a required reading of the novel, Island of the Blue Dolphins. In the story, otters are nearly over hunted for their pelts, and the main character, Karana, an American Indian girl, takes the time to nurse an injured sea otter pup back to health. This software is user friendly as it allows for non-linear linkage, interactive questioning, and eye-catching graphics. Specific Objectives of the Lesson · Students will compare and contrast the disappearance of Sea Otters from Ocean Edge and Island of the Blue Dolphins by creating a food web for each ecosystem using Kidspiration. Instructional Materials Software: Science Seekers by Tom Snyder Productions; Kidspiration Computer – large monitor for whole group instruction (if available) Computer Lab- This will be helpful on the first day of project. Thereafter the work can be done at a center time, or when both students are in the classroom. Pencil Teacher created T chart Completed Investigation and Memorandum sheets for investigation 1 from Science Seekers Island of the Blue Dolphins Lesson Sequence Pre- Assessment: Students will complete a teacher created four section T- Chart where they list out the vertebrates and invertebrates from Science Seekers and Island of the Blue Dolphins. Special focus will need to be given to Island of the Blue Dolphins, in the story Karana has many different names for animals. For example, she calls an octopus a, “Devilfish.” Initiation: Students will be asked to recall working on their first investigation from the Science Seekers Software. They will respond to the teacher’s questions on ecosystems and how living things interact. They will also be asked to think about some examples from Island of the Blue Dolphins and how living things interacted. The teacher will review the key concepts from the Science Seekers Software that will appear on the large television monitor (if available.) Before the creation of their food webs students will need to review the vertebrates and invertebrates found in Science Seekers and Island of the Blue Dolphins. This can be done through their completed T charts. Development of Lesson: Students will work with a partner to create a food web for both the Science Seekers fictitious sea otter population of Ocean Edge and for Island of the Blue Dolphins. Students will log into Kidspiration on their computer where they will work off the graphic organizer template to create two separate food webs. They will use their completed T chart to create the proper links using the bubbles and arrows of Kidspiration to link primary and secondary consumers. Students will need approximately two thirty minute sessions to complete this lesson. Students will need the second session to review their spelling and correct any mistakes in spelling on their food webs. The pre assessment should be done ahead of time in class to give students the opportunity to work with their partner to review key information. Closure: As students complete their webs they will print them out and with their partners share their comparisons with the class. Students will listen for key examples of how the two ecosystems are alike and different. They will be preparing to use classmate’s ideas to write their essay that will be part of their language arts grade for Island of the Blue Dolphins. Evaluation or Assessment · Using the information from their food webs students will write an expository essay on what would happen to the ecosystem in the Island of the Blue Dolphins if the Sea Otter population were completely eradicated. · Students create posters on the California Sea Otter to post on beaches telling people how to protect them and their ecosystem. Supplemental Materials Teacher created T chart Scoring rubric for completed food webs
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