SUBJECT: Science

GRADE: Fifth

TECHNOLOGY: PowerPoint

BY: Jessica Early, Kevin Fahy, Adia McDuffey, Amanda Ingram

Target Grade/Subject

This is a science activity for 9 to 11 year old students in the fifth grade. At this stage they are between concrete and formal operations. Most likely, some have made the jump and others have not. On Kohlberg's scale of moral reasoning, children this age would probably be at stage 2 (market exchange) or 3 (interpersonal harmony). In Erikson's stages of Psychosocial Development they should be experiencing the crisis of industry versus inferiority. This lesson should appeal to these students because it will give them the enjoyment of mastery through recognition of accomplishment, which is instrumental in resolving this crisis. Also, students this age enjoy using the computer and are generally adept at learning how to use programs.

Objectives

SOL: Science 5.5

This lesson should take 3 days to complete. Students will present research and information about the five kingdoms of living things (Animalia, Plantae, Monera, Protista, and Fungi) using Microsoft PowerPoint. Working in groups of 4 to 5, students will create a slide show of 6 slides (one introductory slide and one slide with 35 facts for each of the five kingdoms) and present it to the class. The slides should also contain one of the pre-made backgrounds, a piece of relevant clip art from PowerPoint's store of clip art, and the transitions in the slide show should be animated. During presentations, students will be expected to share the speaking duties, be articulate (avoid 'ums' and 'uhs'), and be professional (avoid fidgeting, maintain good posture, be well prepared, and be respectful and attentive to other groups). Students will give peer evaluations of the other groups whose presentations they watch. The teacher will also give an evaluation.

Materials

For this activity, computers with PowerPoint, science reference books, and teacher selected library books will be necessary. A screen and projector may also be used to make the presentation easier to observe.

Lesson Description

• Randomly assign students into groups of 45.
• Allow one class period for research on each of the five kingdoms. Half of the groups will use the science reference books while the other groups are using the library books. After 30 minutes the groups should switch.
• Allow one class period for creating the PowerPoint presentation. During this time the teacher will circulate and assist students with the program and monitor progress. Students will be expected to produce an introductory slide and 1 slide per kingdom with 35 facts on each, plus clip art, backgrounds, and animation (with the help of the teacher).
• Allow one class period for final preparations and presenting the finished presentations. During the first part of the class, allow 30 minutes for students to decide who will do which part of the presentation and make any other necessary preparations. Next, each group will give their presentation to the class. During this time, students not presenting will give peer evaluations of each group. They will write down what was good about the presentation and what could have been done better.

Evaluation Procedures

Each student will receive a grade based on the following criteria. All grades are based on whole group performance except for the grades under the heading 'presentation', which are individual grades for each student.

• Group Work (20 points)
• Teacher evaluation (15)
• Peer evaluation (5)

PowerPoint Presentation (80 points)

• Have all 6 slides (10)
• 35 facts on each kingdom slide (10)
• One piece of clip art on each slide (10)
• Animated (10)
• Backgrounds (10)

Presentation (30)

• Did share of speaking (10)
• Articulation (10)
• Professionalism (10)

(Avoid fidgeting, maintain good posture, be well prepared, and be respectful and attentive to other groups)