EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION LESSON PLAN FORMAT

Name: Micaela Johnson

Lesson Title: Animals and their Parents
Life Science
Grade: 4
Introductory
Type of Lesson:
** Practice/Review
(CHOOSE ONE)
Mastery
Objective(s):
1) Students will be able to identify how
animals are similar to their parents when it
comes to their physical characteristics.
2) Students will be able to discuss how
different characteristics will affect the
animals chances of survival and
reproduction in the wild.

Date of lesson: 10/29/14

Content Area:
School:
Multicultural Goals:
(based on Bennetts MC curriculum goals 16)
Assessment Tool(s):(informal/formal;
worksheet; observation; basal test; etc.)
Assessment Criteria: I hope to find that the
students are able to identify certain physical
characteristics that animals have, and how
they may be similar to their parents. I also
hope that they are able to analyze how
certain characteristics may help an animal
survive, and how other characteristics may
put the animal in danger.

Academic Standards:
4.3.1 Observe and describe how offspring are very much, but not exactly, like their parents
or one another. Describe how these differences in physical characteristics among individuals
in a population may be advantageous for survival and reproduction.
Differentiation/Adaptations: (How will my instruction be different for students who are not
yet ready for this level of skill; How will my instruction be different for students whose skills
are beyond this lesson?)

Same Skill one grade level below (include Standard)

Same Skill one grade level above (include Standard)

Background Knowledge/Prerequisite Skills:

Students will need to be able to recognize
similarities of physical traits between
animals. They will also need to be familiar
with the physical traits that help an animal
survive in the wild.
Materials:
Animals and their Parents worksheet
(attached)
Pencils

Multiple Intelligences/Learning Styles &

Blooms Levels:
(kinesthetic; artistic/musical; linguistic; etc.)
(visual; auditory; tactile; etc.)
(knowledge; comprehension; application;
etc.)
Technologies Implemented:
(What technology was used for instruction?)

Modifications (meet IEP for individual students)

Anticipatory Set:
Ask: Can any of you name some of the physical similarities that you share with someone in
your home? (Allow students to share examples that they can think of) Does anyone have
the same eye color as a parent or caretaker?
Just like many people look similar to one another, animals also have a tendency to look like
their parents or other relatives.
Today we are going to practice what we have been learning about the physical
characteristics of animals, and their ability to survive and reproduce in the wild.

Procedures.):
Show several examples of a parent animal and its offspring. Ask students to point out the
similarities. Then show a picture of the habitat in which the animal lives and ask the
students to name the characteristics that the animal would need to survive and which traits
will put it in danger.
Pass out the Animals and their Parents worksheet and ask students to work in pairs or
individually to complete it. Walk around the room and monitor the progress of the students
and answer any questions that may arise. Collect the paper after everyone is finished ( this
could take anywhere from 10-15 minutes).

Closure
Now it should be getting easier for everyone to identify how animals are like their parents,
and how some traits that animals have make it easier for them to survive longer in the wild.
Explain how some careers are centered around animal genetics and survival in the wild, and
tell students that if they enjoyed this topic, they may have a career like this one day.

UDL Chart:

Name: __________________________
Animals and their Parents
Directions: Study the following pairs of pictures and write on the lines how these animals are
similar in their appearance. Then look at the picture of the habitat that is provided and state YES
if you believe the animal could live there safely, and NO if you think that the animal cannot live
there safely.
1. Adult Garter Snake

Baby Garter Snake

Similarities:
____________________________________________________________________
Habitat Safety: _________________________
2. Adult African Elephant

Baby African Elephant

Similarities:____________________________________________________________________
Habitat Safety: ____________________________________
3.

Adult Cat

Kitten

Similarities: ___________________________________________________________________
Habitat Safety: _______________________________________________________________