Lewis &
Clark: Rediscovering our past!
Lesson 5
Title:
"Animals and Plants and Birds...Oh, My!"
Grade Levels:
4-7
(teacher can adjust to meet grade level needs)
Subjects:
Language
Arts, Social Studies
Learner Outcomes:
-
Students will know how
to access Internet sites.
-
Students will learn about
some of the different flora and fauna that were discovered on the Lewis
& Clark Expedition. This site contains the formal
and informal names of these discoveries. Discoveries
of Lewis and Clark: In Chronological Order
-
Students will practice
their powers of description by verbally describing some different plants
and animals that were seen by Lewis & Clark on their Expedition. Plants
and Animals
-
Students will use their
knowledge of descriptive vocabulary to read descriptions of a bird, correct
spelling and grammar errors made by William Clark, and draw that bird to
the best of their ability. Spelling
and Drawing Sheet and Spelling
and Drawing Answers
Duration:
Approximately
Four 40-minute class periods (could be more if you do all three sites).
Materials:
Technology
Tools/courseware:
-
Internet ready computers
-
Word processing software
(to print out "Did You Know?" sheets)
-
Printers
Teacher
Notes:
-
Once on the timeline of
flora and fauna discovered by Lewis & Clark, the teacher and the students
can discuss some of the plants and animals native to their own community
area. Discoveries
of Lewis and Clark: In Chronological Order
-
The teacher will need
to print out the Plants
and Animals worksheet for students. The teacher will
remind the students to use their most descriptive words and phrases in
describing the pictures they see on the worksheet.
-
The teacher may want to
access this site with the students to show pictures of plant and animal
discoveries and discuss them with the students. Discovering
Lewis and Clark Once on this site, direct
the students to choose "Natural History" under Discovery Paths. They
will be able to see and read about many plant and animals that Lewis &
Clark came across on the journey.
-
Teachers will need to
run off the Spelling
and Drawing Sheet and Spelling
and Drawing Answers.
Procedures:
-
The teacher will explain
that "flora" means plant life and "fauna" means animal life.
-
The teacher will direct
the students to access the Discoveries
of Lewis and Clark: In Chronological Order site.
Once on the timeline of flora and fauna discovered by Lewis & Clark,
the teacher and the students can spend some time exploring the site and
then discuss some of the plants and animals that might be native to their
own community area.
-
The teacher will give
each student a copy of the Plants
and Animals worksheet for students. The teacher
will remind the students to use their most descriptive words and phrases
in describing the pictures they see on the worksheet.
-
The students may want
to share their "colorful" descriptions with the class!
-
The teacher direct the
students to access the site Discovering
Lewis and Clark (choose Natural History under
Discovery Paths), where the students can actually see pictures of
plants and animals encountered by Lewis & Clark on their Expedition.
-
Teachers will need to
run off the Spelling
and Drawing Sheet and Spelling
and Drawing Answers with an excerpt taken from the journal
entries of Lewis & Clark to see if the students can correct errors
and draw what is described.
Modifications:
-
Students not able to do
independent reading, writing, or drawing may be partnered with another
student who will help them read the questions. Together they can
decide upon the answers, descriptions, and pictures.
Enrichment
Activities:
-
If the teacher and students
wish, they can take other pictures from the Lewis and Clark Discovering
Lewis and Clark and try to come up with creative and
accurate descriptions of other animals and plants that Lewis & Clark
saw. Students could even make a class "journal" which would include
a picture and description from each student.
Evaluation/Assessment:
-
The teacher can use the
written activity sheets as assessment for this activity.
-
The teacher can also use
the enrichment activity as an assessment for this activity.
West
Virginia IGOs:
-
Language
Arts: 4.27, 4.56, 4.69, 5.82, 5.95, 6.67, 7,69
-
Fine Arts:
(Visual Art) 6.14, 6.20
-
Science:
4.24, 5.9, 6.75, 7.17
National
Standards:
Language
Arts:
-
Uses grammatical
and mechanical conventions in written compositions.
-
Uses reading
skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational
texts.
Fine Arts:
-
Understands
the characteristics and merits of one's own artwork and the artwork of
others
References:
a) resources
cited
Discoveries
of Lewis and Clark: In Chronological Order http://www.nps.gov/jeff/L&cFlora.htm
Discovering
Lewis and Clark http://www.lewis-clark.org/index.htm
b) additional resources
Resource
Page
c) student resources
Plants
and Animals
Spelling
and Drawing Sheet and Spelling
and Drawing Answers
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Created
by:
Jan
Madden
Nicki
Melissinos
Tammy
Taylor
Marshall County Schools
- Sherrard Elementary School and Union Junior High School