SUBJECT: Science
GRADE: Fourth
TECHNOLOGY: Internet and PowerPoint
BY:Meghan Carey, Lesley Jacobi, Shandra Wrinkle

Structures Slide Show

Target Grade/Subject:

My students are part of a unique fourth grade program in Northern Virginia. They are part of a special gifted and talented program in a very affluent area near our nation's capital. One of the main aspects of the our program is to have the students learn as much as they can on their own. These extra intelligent students enjoy discovering and learning on their own. Sometimes their intelligence gets in the way so they have trouble paying attention in class because they think at such high levels. Through experimentation I have found that they prefer learner-centered instruction over teacher-centered instruction. Through learner-centered instruction the students are put at the center of the learner process by being responsible for projects, experiments, and problem solving. I help to guide them but mostly I leave them on their own and help them when they have a conundrum. By undergoing this process I feel that my students develop a deeper understanding of the content they are learning.

My students are very well behaved and only get out of control when they get bored with the lecture being taught which is too easy for them. They want to think at the highest level and not deal with inconsequential knowledge. My classroom only has ten students because the selection process to enter the program is so difficult. All my students are required to have Apple computers at home so they can undergo the same procedures at home that they do at school. All of them have state of the art technology and internet access from their house. My students enjoy learning and like to use technology to enforce the subject matter at hand.

Objectives:

The SOL we are targeting in this lesson is for fourth grade science. The SOL is 4.4 and it states, "The student will investigate and understand basic plant anatomy and life processes." In our lesson we will be focusing on the sub topic of this SOL which emphasizes the structures of typical plants (leaves, stems, roots and flowers).

• Objective 1: Create an effective slide show, with seven slides, which shows the plant anatomy and life process of a plant of your choice by using your Apple computer at home and creating a PowerPoint presentation. The effectiveness of the slide will be based on: correct spelling, correct grammar, creativity, neatness, punctuality, and interesting findings. The project must be turned on time, otherwise the grade will be reduced five points for each day it is turned in late.
• Objective 2: Demonstrate your understanding of the structure of a plant by being able to label each part of the plant as either a leaf, stem, root or flower. The student must provide a clip-art for each of these parts to show a clear understanding.
• Objective 3: Demonstrate your understanding of the function of the structures of the plant by producing a slide on each of the structures (leaf, stem, root, and flower) and which also defines its function in the life process of the plant. For example, a slide that labels the stem of the plant must also define the function of the stem in the plant's life process.

Materials:

• Apple computer
• reference materials (encyclopedia, online encyclopedia, science books, online reference materials, etc)
• internet access
• Microsoft Powerpoint presentation program
• printing paper
• printer cartridge (color not required)
• creativity
• computer knowledge
  
  

Lesson Description:

1. Each student will choose a plant of their own to research.
2. The student will perform research on that plant using internet resources, encyclopedias, science books, science journals, science magazines, and any other resources available at one's house.
3. The student will discover, through research what are the functions of the leaf, stem, root, and flower of their plant.
4. The student will be able to identify the leaf, stem, root, and flower of their chosen plant.
5. Once the student has gathered all this information they will be able to start their PowerPoint Presentation.
6. First off, create a new presentation
7. Begin by changing the background to a solid color and use the same background for each slide.
8. Enter the following text on your first slide: your name, your chosen plant, the date
9. Make a new slide.
10. Insert a copy of an image from the web of your plant on this slide.
11. Provide some background information, from your research, on this slide also.
12. Make a third slide
13. On this slide label the leaf of your chosen plant and define its function
14. Make a fourth slide.
15. On this slide label the stem of your chosen plant and define its function.
16. Make a fifth slide.
17. On this slide label the roots of your chosen plant and define its function.
18. Make a sixth slide.
19. On this slide label the flowers of your chosen plant and define its function.
20. Make a seventh and final slide.
21. On this slide provide some interesting facts you learned about your plant.
22. Make this slide as exciting as you can and be creative! It's the last one so make it count.
23. Save your "structures" slide show.
24. Print out a copy of your slide show presentation and turn it in at the beginning of science class.
25. I will review the copies of the slide shows and then hand them back when I am done. I will not be showing them to the class because all the slides will be pretty much the same. However, when we learn about plants in science class please share the knowledge that you learned about plants while creating your presentation.
26. I am giving you one week to complete this assignment; so start your research today. Remember, if you wait until the last minute the quality will not be there. I will know which ones of you rushed and which ones of put in a lot of time. Just a warning that I will be able to tell which of you rushed through this project versus those who put in a lot of time and work. I will notice who followed the directions and who used the most creativity.
    

Evaluation Procedure:

Objective One (40 points)

• All seven slides included (10 points)
• Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation (10 points)
• Student demonstrates creativity and neatness; the student also provided interesting facts (20 points)
• Turned in project on time Yes/No (deduction of five points per day from final computer grade)

Objective Two (30 points)

• Correctly labeled the four parts of the plant (15 points)
• Provided a clip-art of each part to show clear understanding (15 points)

Objective Three (30 points)

• Provides correct function of each part of plant (15 points)
• Each function is on same slide that labels the part of the plant (15 points)

Grading Scale:
90-100 = A
80-90 = B
70-80 = C
60-70 = D
60 and below =F