My students will be choosing an endangered species for their individual writing projects. This is a spin-off from our class shared writing. In the shared writing they chose to write about animals and what they eat. I have to admit sometimes it got a little intense for me since I am an avid animal lover and reading and researching these animals with my 3rd graders was a little more than I bargained for. Of the 4 EC students I am working with 3 are boys who absolutely love to read and hear about how animals in the wild attack each other and rip each other apart! The more violent the better. They chose carnivorous animals. My one little girl chose herbivores like the elephant and the monkey. That was easier to take. At first I thought I should discourage the boys from writing with details of killing prey and exactly how it was done, but they informed me that it’s the way it really happens . They were right and I gave in. So from that project one of the students told me they thought one of the animals was endangered. From there we had the discussion of endangered animals and they decided to do their individual projects on one of them. Monday I plan to do the Internet Workshop and begin the individual research.
The Internet Workshop went much better than I had anticipated with my EC students. They continually amaze me with what they are capable of doing. Some of the material was a bit rough for them to muddle through but they were able to figure out exactly what they were looking for and to look for key words in the passages that matched the info they were searching for. They are fairly good readers as far as decoding is concerned, comprehension is the main problem. Once they located key words they were able to begin there and with some support, locate exactly what they needed. They stuck with it and really enjoyed finding the information. They took notes from their finding, some of course better than others. We had amazing discussions from the read information. The questions they asked were very appropriate and showed a true interest in the topic. They learned so much, as did I, and from this workshop they chose the animal they wanted to write their individual non-fiction piece. There were many videos about the animals and I think that was their favorite part. It was a wonderful way to introduce them to non- fiction and their capabilities as writers to incorporate this type of writing into what they already know.
Linda B's Blog
Posted by lboh55 on February 20, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Endangered Species
Websites
http://library.thinkquest.org/19689/data/menu.html
http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheet/map.html
http://www.nwf.org/
Please answer the following questions about endangered species using the websites listed above.
1. What are Endangered Species? What does it mean to be extinct?
2. What causes them to become endangered? List 4 reasons animals become extinct or endangered.
3. What can you do to help keep these animals alive and protect them from becoming endangered?
4. List 4 animals from North America that are either extinct or on the endangered species list. Tell what is causing each to become extinct.
5. What is global warming and how does it affect wildlife and their habitat?
6. How specifically is global warming affecting polar bears?
7. What did you read that WOWed you ? Share it with us.
Posted by Linda B on February 28, 2011 at 12:55 am
My students will be choosing an endangered species for their individual writing projects. This is a spin-off from our class shared writing. In the shared writing they chose to write about animals and what they eat. I have to admit sometimes it got a little intense for me since I am an avid animal lover and reading and researching these animals with my 3rd graders was a little more than I bargained for. Of the 4 EC students I am working with 3 are boys who absolutely love to read and hear about how animals in the wild attack each other and rip each other apart! The more violent the better. They chose carnivorous animals. My one little girl chose herbivores like the elephant and the monkey. That was easier to take. At first I thought I should discourage the boys from writing with details of killing prey and exactly how it was done, but they informed me that it’s the way it really happens . They were right and I gave in. So from that project one of the students told me they thought one of the animals was endangered. From there we had the discussion of endangered animals and they decided to do their individual projects on one of them. Monday I plan to do the Internet Workshop and begin the individual research.
Posted by Linda B on March 20, 2011 at 6:58 pm
The Internet Workshop went much better than I had anticipated with my EC students. They continually amaze me with what they are capable of doing. Some of the material was a bit rough for them to muddle through but they were able to figure out exactly what they were looking for and to look for key words in the passages that matched the info they were searching for. They are fairly good readers as far as decoding is concerned, comprehension is the main problem. Once they located key words they were able to begin there and with some support, locate exactly what they needed. They stuck with it and really enjoyed finding the information. They took notes from their finding, some of course better than others. We had amazing discussions from the read information. The questions they asked were very appropriate and showed a true interest in the topic. They learned so much, as did I, and from this workshop they chose the animal they wanted to write their individual non-fiction piece. There were many videos about the animals and I think that was their favorite part. It was a wonderful way to introduce them to non- fiction and their capabilities as writers to incorporate this type of writing into what they already know.
Posted by fryeem on March 13, 2011 at 10:33 pm
Did you actually do this with your students? If so, how did it go?