I. Curricular Framework

Concept:

Environments

Essential Question:

How have worms adapted to their environment?

Bridge:

Worm Movement

Content:

Study of Worms

Outcomes:

II. Standards Aligned

III. Instruction and Assessment

1. Connect: Connecting to the Concept Experientially

Objective: To increase students' understanding of another life form - worms.

Activity:
1) Bring in live worms. Stimulate discussion of worms as another form of life.
2) Enable each child to touch and hold a worm.
3) Discuss again to see if students' observations changed after holding them.

Assessment: Teacher evaluates by observation.

2. Attend: Attending to the Connection

Objective: To increase students' understanding of worms.

Activity:
1) Teacher graphs students' observations on how worms feel; a) slippery, b) wet, c) squishy, d) rubbery, e) etc.
2) Language Experience story is created by student dictation.

Assessment: Teacher checks for accuracy while creating graph and experience story. .

Assessment, Phase One, Level of Engagement, Fascination:

3. Image: Creating a Mental Picture

Objective: Students move to the music

Activity: Play “Walter the Waltzing Worm” by Hap Palmer and have students move to the music

Assessment: Understanding of the movement worms make

Assessment, Phase Two, Seeing the Big Picture:

4. Inform: Receiving Facts & Knowledge

Objective: Teacher lectures on worms importance to society as a living creature.

Activity: Teacher lectures using bulletin board visuals.

Assessment: Teacher evaluates by classroom observation.

Assessment, Phase Three, Success with Acquiring Knowledge:

5. Practice: Developing Skills

Objective: To increase students' understanding of worms.

Activity:
1) Students copy teacher/student made graph on how worms feel; slippery, wet, squishy, rubbery.
2) Students copy teacher/student made Language Experience story.
3) Students illustrate their story copy.

Assessment: Teacher checks graphs and board work. Teacher evaluates student drawings for worm characteristics.

Assessment, Phase Four, Success with Acquiring Skills:

6. Extend: Extending Learning to the Outside World

Objective: Students take active role in creating a worm of their own.

Activity:
1) Class makes Dirt Cake using Oreo cookies, cream cheese and whipped topping. Top with flower (silk) and gummy worms.
2) Using patterns, students make 3-dimensional worm.

Assessment: Teacher evaluates by observing each students' worm.

7. Refine: Refining the Extension

Objective: Students are to creatively exhibit their mastery of worms by creating worm collages.

Activity: In four small groups, children create a collage of all the new concepts learned from their study of worms.

Assessment: Teacher will check collages for accuracy.

8. Perform: Creative Manifestation of Material Learned

Objective: Students demonstrate knowledge of subject matter by telling another class what they learned about worms.

Activity: Students display collages, graphs, 3-dimensional worms to another class while explaining what they learned.

Assessment: Teacher checks for accuracy by observation.

Assessment, Phase Five,Performance, Creative Use of Material Learned: