LESSON PLAN

Lesson Topic/Focus: Information reports Date: 10/6/14

AusVELS Domain(s): English Year level(s): 3/4

AusVELS strand (s): Writing Lesson duration: 30 minutes

AusVELS sub-strand(s): Literacy

Learning Standard(s)/Outcome(s):
Students will describe 10 facts about their chosen animal and use these to construct an information
report.

Assessment:
-students will list at least 10 facts about their chosen animal; using the headings such as what is the
animal, what does the animal look like, what kind of animal are they and what does this animal eat
-students will write up a draft report describing the 10 facts they have listed under each heading.
-students will type up their final report which is the 10 facts combined, should include at least 3 pictures.

Teaching focus:
-for this task I would like to focus on my time management skills, ensuring that I stick to the allocated
times so the lesson can run smoothly.

Background to the learning:

A. References for teacher background knowledge
-AusVELS
-Information report examples (http://arc.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/stage-
2/english/activities/information-report-on-an-animal/)

B. Identify students current knowledge

-this is the first lesson of a series of two lessons on information reports.
-students have prior knowledge about the main features of animals and have been introduced to the
format of an information report before.
-students are familiar with how to use the computer to type up their reports, and also obtain pictures
from the internet.

Lesson resources:
-tablets
-students literacy books
-white board
-pencils

Lesson content:
A. Introduction 10 mins
-Introduce the game animal twenty questions to the class, choosing one volunteer to come
out the front at a time. Chose an animal, and place the name on the students head, so they
cannot see it but the rest of the class can. After the game, recap students on their knowledge
of what an information report is, and go through examples of the features of animals which
they would include linking it back to the game.
B. Development 5 mins
1. As a class discuss the format of an information report and the information which needs to
be included.
-does anyone know what an information report is?
2. Point out the questions to be answered which will be written on the white board these will
be visible to students while they are working.
-what type of animal is a tiger?
3. Brainstorm the features of one animal under each heading of the report as a class.
-where does a tiger live? What does a tiger eat?
4. Inform students of their task which is selecting one animal and researching information,
ensuring they answer the key questions.
5. Talk about the structure needed for a report with the class, stating that for the final report,
a title, classification, description, random facts and a conclusion are necessary.
6. Tell students to complete set work in their writing books, and that they can use books or
tablets for their research.

C. Consolidation, practice, extension 10 mins

- Students will begin to write up their report under each heading. The headings been what kind of
animal is this? What does this animal look like? What does this animal eat? Where does this animal
live?
- Once students have answered these questions they will write in full sentences, and combine it into a
paragraph, to complete their information report.
- Early finishers of this activity will extend onto including random facts in their report, which they can
find by researching their animal using the tablets.

D. Closure 5 mins
-the teacher will go around the class as they are working to observe their work, ensuring they have
answered each question under the correct heading, and that they have answered in depth. Which will
determine if they have completed the task effectively. Also the amount of information they give about
their chosen animal, including random facts and if it matches the criteria.

Post-lesson review and evaluation:

Student achievement:
-in doing this task some students demonstrated a high level of researching skill; they were able to
research their animal and find various information quite well. The students have furthered their
knowledge of what an information report is and its format, however due to time limitations were not
able to complete their final paragraph and type it up, which will be now completed in the 2 nd and 3rd
lesson of this series. Some students struggled to find required 10 facts about their animal, and found it
difficult to think of answers which were out of the ordinary such as it eats meat.

Teaching effectiveness:
-next time I will focus on my behaviour management, when playing the game at the beginning of the
lesson, students were getting too excited and began calling out and being very loud and disruptive. To
do this I will need to reorganise the game to ensure that there is no calling out. I would also have liked
to place more focus on the animal facts said in the game, because during the game it was difficult for
me to recap the facts we have learnt about each animal over their excitement.
However, from this task I think that students effectively learnt about what an information report is, and
its format. I would also focus on future lessons on my time management, allowing more time for the
written work and less for the activities. I feel that there is 1 student in particular who I need to control
their behaviour in my lesson. Today the teacher took him out of the class, so next time I need to do
this myself which means I need to observe different ways the teacher disciplines him.

Lesson/activity transition:

Step 1: students finished writing the sentence they were in the middle of writing.
Step 2: students were told to put their tablets away and make sure they were correctly placed on
charge.
Step 3: students showed the teacher their work, and then placed their books back in the correct place