Virtual Nature Walk
Overview: Summer time is an excellent time to take a nature walk, especially in the woods, to explore and observe the natural habitat of the animals. What, no woods nearby or lack of time? Check out this lesson plan to enable your students to experience the animals of the forest.
Grade Level: 3rd through 8th
Materials:
  • eBuddies
  • Internet access
  • MS Office Suite
National
Standards:

Science:

Life Sciences

  • Understands relationships among organisms and their physical environment.

Technology:

1. Basic Operations and Concepts

  • Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.
  • Students are proficient in the use of technology

3. Productivity tools

  • Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity and promote creativity.
  • Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works.

4. Communication tools

  • Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences

5. Resource tools

  • Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources

  • Students use technology tools to process data and report results.

 
Objectives:

The students will be able to

  • identify animals found in a forest habitat.
  • list the characteristics of the animals found in a forest habitat.
  • initiate research on animals by accessing the Internet.
  • produce a Power Point presentation illustrating the information gained from the research done on an animal.
 

Activities:
  • Read: One Gorilla: A Counting Book (1990) to engage the students in the lesson.
    Discuss the animals that were mentioned in the book.
  • Possible questions:
    • Have they seen these animals in their natural habitat?
    • How do these animals co-exist?
    • Are there prey/predator relationships?
    • What makes these animals special?
    • What is liked or disliked about the animals?
  • Access website: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forest/
  • Brain-storming
  • Research
  • Power Point presentation
Procedure:
1. Read the story: One Gorilla: A Counting Book (1990) to engage the students in the lesson.
2. List on the board animals in the story.
3. Discuss the animals on the list and use the above possible questions.
4. Ask the students if they have ever been on a nature walk. Discuss.
5. Pass out eBuddies and tell the students they will be taking a virtual nature walk through the forest. Explain what virtual is.
6. Access the following website: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/forest/, and begin the nature walk.
7. After the nature walk, list the animals seen. Discuss these animals with the above questions.
8. List the characteristics of the animals discovered through the nature walk.
9. Have the students chose an animal to research.
10. Access the following website for research: http://www.yahooligans.com/Science_and_Nature/Living_Things/Animals/
11. Have the students make a simple Power Point presentation on the chosen animal.
12. Have students give their presentation.
Evaluation:
Sources:
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Phone (703) 393-1940 Fax (703) 393-1730 http://www.earthwalk.com