LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Webcams in the classroom: Animal inquiry and observation

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=234

A lesson plan for Grade 4 Information Skills, English Language Arts, and Science

Provider: IRA/NCTE

About this resource

Appropriate grades
4
Provider
IRA/NCTE

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In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world. Based on the observation of webcams, this lesson plan engages students in learning activities which can result in a year-long study of a particular animal, comparisons of observations of several animals, or application of the inquiry process to other activities in the classroom. This inquiry-based activity focuses on observation logs, class discussion, questioning, and research.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Information Skills (2000)

Grade 4

  • Goal 4: The learner will EXPLORE and USE research processes to meet information needs.
  • Goal 5: The learner will COMMUNICATE reading, listening, and viewing experiences.
    • Objective 5.01: Respond to reading, listening, viewing experiences orally, artistically, dramatically, through various formats (e.g., print, multimedia).

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 4

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
      • present information and ideas in a clear, concise manner.
      • discuss.
      • interview.
      • solve problems.
      • make decisions.
    • Objective 4.05: Use planning strategies to generate topics and organize ideas (e.g., brainstorming, mapping, webbing, reading, discussion).
    • Objective 4.07: Compose fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using self-selected and assigned topics and forms (e.g., personal and imaginative narratives, research reports, diaries, journals, logs, rules, instructions).

Science (2005)

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of animal behavior and adaptation.
    • Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
      • Other animals.
      • Plants.
      • Weather.
      • Climate.
    • Objective 1.03: Observe and discuss how behaviors and body structures help animals survive in a particular habitat.