Amazing Insects

Lesson/Activity Title:

Amazing Insects. This lesson will focus on introducing students to the

world of insects. Students will review a flipchart presentation on insects
and listen to a read aloud

Standards Addressed:
Grade Level Expectation: Third Grade LIFE SCIENCE
Concepts and skills students master:
1. The duration and timing of life cycle events such as reproduction and longevity vary across
and species
Evidence Outcomes21st Century Skills and Readiness Competencies

Students can:
a. Use evidence to develop a scientific explanation regarding the stages of how
develop and change over time (DOK 1-3)
b. Analyze and interpret data to generate evidence that different organisms deve
differently over time (DOK 1-2)
c. Use a variety of media to collect and analyze data regarding how organisms d
(DOK 1-2) Inquiry Questions:
1. How are life cycles from a variety of organisms similar and different?
2. How does an organism change throughout its life cycle?
Relevance and Application:
1. Living things may have different needs at different points in their life cycles.
Grade Level Expectation: Third Grade RWC
Concepts and skills students master:
2. Successful group activities need the cooperation of everyone
Evidence Outcomes 21st Century Skills and Readiness Competencies

Students can:
a. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative
discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on gra
and texts, building on others ideas and expressing their own clearly. (CCSS: SL
i.
Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required
explicitly draw on that preparation and other information know
topic to explore ideas under discussion. (CCSS: SL.3.1a)
ii.
Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the flo
respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a
the topics and texts under discussion). (CCSS: SL.3.1b)
iii.
Ask questions to check understanding of information presented
topic, and link their comments to the remarks of others. (CCSS
iv.
Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discu
(CCSS: SL.3.1d)
v.
Use eye contact, volume, and tone appropriate to audience and
vi.
Use different types of complete sentences to share information
directions, or request information
vii.
Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read
information presented in diverse media and formats, including
quantitatively, and orally. (CCSS: SL 3.2)
viii.
Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, o
appropriate elaboration and detail. (CCSS: SL 3.3)

Purpose:

Students will be able to identify an insect using scientific language.

They will also be able to construct a paragraph which contains a list of
insect characteristics and abilities.

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to work independently to construct a

paragraph listing insect characteristics and abilities. Students will
be able to share information collected during read aloud and mini
lesson.

Your Goals for Learners:

My goal for learners is critical thinking, which is actualized by students

constructing a paragraph which contains information from read aloud
and flipchart mini lesson. All students will share their work by
communicating in a large group and partners.

Your Learning Principles:

Students learn best through experience and when they have clear
communication from their teachers. Students engage and participate
when the educational task contains elements of interaction and a
challenge. This is incorporated into my lesson by using the flipchart
during my mini lesson which will require students to move elements on
the board helping them to understand facts about insects.

Setting:

Students will gather in the meeting area for a mini lesson. They will be
exposed to modeling of the skills they will use to complete their work.
Students will listen to a read aloud providing them with additional
information about insects. They will then be dismissed to their desks to
work independently on their paragraph. Students will return to meeting
area for debrief.

Materials and preparation:

List of resources and materials:

Students will need paper and pencil to write their paragraph
Students will be provided with mentor texts to help them write their
paragraphs.

Activity Procedure:

Describe how the lesson/activity will be presented:

1.) Students will gather in the meeting area. They will be introduced to
the lesson entitled Amazing Insects. This flipchart presentation will
provide foundational information about insects and future lessons
and activities.
2.) Students will listen to a read aloud from a mentor text. This text
will provide additional details about insects which will be included
in their paragraph.
3.) Students will be dismissed to work independently at their desks
and construct their paragraph. Teacher will circulate among
students to ensure they are on task and provide additional
instruction.

4.) Students will be recalled to meeting area where they will debrief
by turning and talking and sharing their paragraphs.
5.) Students will be dismissed to their desks and clean up before
transition to next period.
Differentiation:

Differentiated instruction John, Michael, Ann and James will be

invited to work with the teacher at the small group table. They will be
provided with a flow/tree map structure to help them construct their
ideas for their paragraph. They will be given supports to help them
construct sentences for their paragraph.

Assessment:

Students will present their paragraphs to partners and to the whole

group when recalled to the meeting area. A finished paragraph will be
the exit ticket for the period.

Extensions:

Students will be asked to complete a worksheet that tests their

knowledge gained during read aloud and mini lesson. Students will be
required to match and describe various insects and their specific
abilities/characteristics.