Lesson Plan #1
Duration: 2 one-hour sessions
Objectives:
Students will define "desert."
Students will identify and define various features of deserts.
Students will complete a KWL chart.
Materials:
Children's Book: Siebert, Dianne. Mojave. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1988 ( a similar children's book about deserts may be substituted)
KWL Chart
Computer with Internet
Key Vocabulary:
Arid: dry
Desert: an area of land where less than 10 inches of rain falls per year.
Evaporation: when a liquid turns into vapor or gas.
Precipitation: water reaching the surface of the Earth (rain, sleet, snow, frost, and dew)
Procedures:
1. Read aloud Mojave by Diane Siebert to introduce the unit.
2. Handout KWL chart.
What We Know About Deserts
K: Students will brainstorm what they think they know about deserts and record each on their chart.
What We Want To Find Out About Deserts
W: Students will brainstorm several questions about deserts they would like answered
and record each on their chart.
What We've Learned About Deserts
L: Students will record the answers to questions and new facts learned at the end
of the lesson.
3. Students will visit Brainpop.com. Students will view the "Desert" movie and answer questions on the online quiz. To view movie, click on Science Movies, and then click on "Desert."
4. Students will go to the following websites to find answers to questions on Activity #1.
Assessment:
Teachers will evaluate students' answers to questions on the KWL chart.
Teachers will evaluate students' answers on Activity #1
Home Learning:
Students will create 3 Did You Know Fact Cards about deserts using a word processor.
The students will drop their cards into a box where other students will pick from and read aloud.
