Lesson Planning

Waynesburg University

Pre-Instructional Planning:
The thought process that leads to the development of
quality, meaningful lesson plans

Guiding questions that will provide the framework for the lesson. (Respond to each question.)
Who will you be teaching? (Identify student grade level as well as academic functioning level and specific needs of individual
students)

This unit will be designed for fourth grade students with a variety of ability levels. There will be
18 typically developing fourth graders, 1 advanced learner, and 1 student with reading
disabilities.

Who (if anybody) will assist with the presentation of this lesson, and what will their role be?

In the classroom there will be a regular education teacher and a special education teacher. The
teachers will be using a co-teaching model in the classroom/computer lab.

What is the long range goal(s) that is tied to this lesson?

The long range goal for this unit would be to increase the students' knowledge about the solar
system. To increase their knowledge about the system, they will complete a variety of activities
including technology, performance based tasks, and direct/indirect instruction.

What is the specific learning objective(s) for this lesson?

The specific learning objectives for this lesson are as follows:

1. The students will be able to identify the nine planets in the solar system from closest to
farthest from the sun.
2. The students will be able to create a Glogster poster to express their knowledge of the solar
system after watching a short video.
3. The students will be able to create a flier based on the information learned about the solar
system unit lessons.
4. The students will be able to create a chart based on information learned through the solar
system unit lessons.
5. The students will work collaboratively with their peers to blog about the information learned
through the solar system unit lessons.
6. The students will use web 2.0 tools to develop an understanding of technology and how to
incorporate it into our unit theme lessons.
7. The students will reflect, through blogging, their understanding of the lessons learned and the
technology used throughout the unit lessons.

What prerequisite skills/knowledge will students need to effectively access and participate in this lesson?

The students will need to know the definitions of concepts being used in the unit such as space,
universe, solar system, planet, and eclipse. The students will need a basic prior knowledge
about earth and what is out beyond the Earth's surface.

When within the stages of learning will this lesson be presented? (Is it a learning acquisition lesson, learning fluency lesson,
learning maintenance lesson, or learning generalization lesson?)

The students will begin with learning acquisition lessons then they will move into performance
and demonstrating understanding through a variety of multi model lesson assignments. At
which point the stage becomes learning maintenance lessons and finally leads to generalization
lessons that demonstrate concepts and skills learned.

When will this lesson be completed? (Will it be a one-day lesson or a multiple day lesson?)

This unit plan will be completed in 4-6 weeks. There are several lessons that can be completed
twice a week during the science component of the curriculum.

Where should this lesson be presented to ensure maximum student access and participation? (computer lab, classroom, science
lab…) AND what materials will be needed?

These lessons will need to be in a classroom or computer lab environment depending on the
lesson plan. Computers will need to be available to the students and teacher. The students
will also need to have usernames and passwords set up prior to the beginning of this lesson.
The students may also need software installation programs set up on each computer such as
photo story software. Other materials may be pencil, paper, and art materials.

Why are you planning to teach this lesson? Why must this information/skill be presented to the students?

The solar system is part of the science curriculum used in fourth grade. My son is currently
learning about the solar system in his science class. The solar system would be a great theme
to use technology with such as Glogster, Photo Story, and publishing documents.

How does this lesson relate to the PA Academic Standards?

3.3.4.B1. Identify planets in our solar system and their basic characteristics. Describe the
earth’s place in the solar system that includes the sun (a star), planets, and many moons.

3.3.4.A2. Identify basic properties and uses of Earth’s materials including rocks, soils,
water, and gases of the atmosphere.
3.4.4.A3. Describe how various relationships exist between technology and other fields.

3.4.4.B1. Describe how technology affects humans in various ways.

3.4.4.B2. Explain how the use of technology affects the environment in good and bad ways.

3.4.4.C1. Understand that there is no perfect design.

3.4.4.E4. Explain how information and communication systems allow information to be

transferred from human to human.

Scientific as Inquiry Standards:

• Ask questions about objects, organisms, and events.

• Understand that all scientific investigations involve asking and answering questions and
comparing the answer with what is already known.

How does this lesson relate to the previous lesson? How does this lesson relate to future lessons?

The lessons will begin at the beginning with a brief video about the solar system and from there,
will lead into the next lesson in the unit which will further develop knowledge and concepts
about the system.

How will you determine if students have met the lesson objective? (Think assessment)

The student's success will be determined through rubrics and their actual presentation of the
material through technology. This will be a portfolio of work where the students' will be graded
based on their learned knowledge into their projects.

How should this lesson be presented to ensure maximum student access and participation? (lecture, whole group activities, small
group activities, cooperative learning groups…)

Each lesson may have a different lesson presentation. Some of the lessons may be whole
group, while others will have small groups and peer partnering. All lessons will have an
independent component to them. All lessons will also have teacher modeling of activity and
expectations.