Teacher Name(s): Ms. Hoff
Date: Fall 2004
Grade level(s): 4-5
Content Areas: Science, Educational Technology
Description/Abstract: Compare and contrast the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse spiders using a Venn Diagram created in MS PowerPoint.
Timeline: 1-2 class periods

Objectives:

1. Compare and contrast 2 spiders: Black Widow and Brown Recluse
2. Edit a Venn Diagram template using PowerPoint
3. Utilize the custom animation features of PowerPoint
4. Practice computing skills: copy, paste, multitask, minimize applications
5. Access the school server: save files, open files
6. Create a dynamic multimedia presentation

Links to Curriculum Standards:

K-12 Educational Technology Standards:

1. Technology Communication Tools (Communication Foundation Skill)
   • Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts and other audiences.
3. Technology Productivity Tools (Resource Access and Utilization Foundation Skill)
   • Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
4. Technology Research Tools (Linking and Generating Knowledge Foundation Skill)
   • Students use appropriate technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
   • Students use technology tools to process data and report results.
6. Basic Operations and Concepts
   • Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.
   • Students are proficient in the use of technology.

• Science as Inquiry
  • Ask questions about objects and events in the environment (e.g., plants, rocks, storms) (SI-E-A1)
  • Pose questions that can be answered by using students’ own observations, scientific knowledge, and testable scientific investigations (SI-E-A1)
  • Express data in a variety of ways by constructing illustrations, graphs, charts, tables, concept maps, and oral and written explanations as appropriate (SI-E-A5) (SI-E-B4)
• Organisms and Their Environments
  • Identify the habitat in which selected organisms would most likely live (LS-E-C2)

• Science as Inquiry
  • Construct, use, and interpret appropriate graphical representations to collect, record, and report data (e.g., tables, charts, circle graphs, bar and line graphs, diagrams, scatter plots, symbols) (SI-M-A4)
  • Communicate ideas in a variety of ways (e.g., symbols, illustrations, graphs, charts, spreadsheets, concept maps, oral and written reports, equations) (SI-M-A7)
  • Use a variety of sources to answer questions (SI-M-A1)
  • Record observations using methods that complement investigations (e.g., journals, tables, charts) (SI-M-A3)

Guiding Questions:

1. What is the purpose of a Venn Diagram?
2. What does a Venn Diagram look like?
3. The teacher will demonstrate how to construct a Venn Diagram or have a student construct one on the board comparing 2 animals (fish vs mammals, birds vs reptiles, etc.).
4. Where do the similar characteristics appear on a Venn Diagram?
5. Has anyone ever heard of or seen a Black Widow or a Brown Recluse spider?
6. What do you know of them (if there is prior knowledge)?

Assessment:

1. The template components have been changed by the student: Title, Subject 1 & 2, Student Name.
2. Two pictures (one of each spider) have been added to the diagram.
3. Facts are organized in the correct category (similarities vs differences).
4. Facts are short and consice, not lengthy sentences.
5. Text is legible: large enough and colored appropriately according to the background chosen (for example, light text on dark background).
6. Prensentation of information includes animation of diagram components.

Learning Connections:

• The lesson will be of interest to students because these spiders can be found locally.
• Prior learning will focus on construction of Venn Diagrams and knowledge of living organisms.
• Curricular connections regarding educational technology will focus on computer skills such as copying and pasting text and pictures, accessing the server, and utilizing more than one program at a time (multitasking).
• Curricular connections regarding science content will focus on the characteristics of Brown Recluse and Black Widow spiders.

Learning Activites or Tasks:

• Students will read about each spider from "KidsHealth.org"
• Students will create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting two spiders, the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse.
• Students will copy and paste pictures of each spider onto their Venn Diagram.
• Students will incorporate custom animation and sound into their slide.
• Students will present their creation to the class.

Teaching Strategies:

The teacher will guide the lesson utilizing the demonstration computer in front of the class in the following order:

1. The teacher will instruct the students to open the "Computer Lab" file on the desktop and the "TMS Computer Lab" webpage will open.
2. Students will be instructed to follow this path:
   1. Scroll to the bottom
   2. Click on the first link, "Computer Lab Lessons"
   3. From the "TMS Computer Lab Lessons" page, find the "Venn Diagrams" box and click on the "Spiders" link
   4. Click on the "Venn Diagram Template" link
3. A dialog box will appear in which the students will be instructed to choose the "save" button.
4. Another dialog box opens and the students will be instructed to do 2 things:
   1. save the template to their folder using this path: TMS Server, Students, TeacherNameFolder, StudentFolder
   2. save the template as "StudentInitial spider"
5. Yet another dialog box will appear after saving their work and students will be instructed to choose "close".
6. Minimize everything to get back to the desktop.
7. Open PowerPoint
8. Open their document using this path: TMS Server, Students, TeacherNameFolder, StudentFolder, "StudentInitial spider"
9. Everyone should now see the template, at which point they will be instructed how to EDIT the WordArt (the title) and the other template components (Subject 1 & 2, Student Name).
10. Next the students will be reminded by demonstration how to copy and paste pictures.
11. The teacher will ask if the students know any other way to copy and paste:
    1. right click & choose copy/paste
    2. from the menu "Edit", then "Copy/Paste"
    3. control + C to copy, control + v to paste
12. The students will be instructed to restore/maximize the "TMS Computer Lab" webpage and click on the Black Widow link (KidsHealth.org site)
13. Two volunteers will be called upon to read the 1st 2 paragraphs
14. Next, students will be instructed to open the Brown Recluse link (KidsHealth.org site)
15. Two volunteers will be called upon to read the 1st 2 paragraphs
16. The teacher will ask for characteristics, both similar and different, of each spider
17. Next the students will be asked how to copy and paste text (the only difference is that text needs to be highlighted first).
18. The teacher will then demonstrate how to copy text from Internet Explorer and paste into PowerPoint.
19. The students will then be instructed to finish filling in their diagrams and to read the rest of the articles to add more information.
20. As students near completion, they will be instructed to add background and animation components to their presentation. A demonstration will follow if necessary.
21. Students will present their creation to the class. Suggestions for improvement will be provided as needed.

Management:

1. Students will work individually.
2. Before demonstrating the lesson step by step, students who wish to forge ahead will be given the opportunity to work at their own pace as soon as the following instruction is given:
   1. The location of the links for the lesson
   2. The need to save the template to their own folder on the server
   3. Give the template a new name: "StudentInitials spider".
   4. After saving the document, the student must choose to "close" the "Download Complete" dialog box and not to "open" it. If the student instead chooses to open the file at this point, it will open in a browser window (Internet Explorer), consequently, some PowerPoint features will not be available for them to use (you can tell the difference when you see navigation buttons across the top of the application, in which case you will need to close this application and start PowerPoint).
3. Students who need extra attention or who won't stay on task will be moved up front by the teacher workstation for more immediate attention.
4. The teacher will repeat each step of the demonstration as needed.

Materials and Resources:

1. Internet connection
2. Internet Browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape
3. MS PowerPoint
4. KidsHealth.org Websites:
   • Black Widow- http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/bugs/black_widow.html
     
   • Brown Recluse- http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/bugs/brown_recluse.html
5. TMS Computer Lab website icon on each desktop for easy access
6. Demonstration computer
7. Venn Diagram Template

Lesson Evaluation and Teacher Reflection:

Questions:
Was this lesson worth doing?
In what ways was this lesson effective?
What evidence do you have for your conclusion?
How would you change this lesson for teaching it again?
What did you observe your students doing and learning?
Did your students find the lesson meaningful and worth completing?