Science Report:  Endangered Species

Objective:
Students will learn to:
    1.  Develop basic computer technology skills to write a science report.
    2.  Search electronic data bases for science report information.
    3.  Create a 1-2 page document using word-processing skills.
Materials: Procedures:
    1.  Pass out copies of report outlines to students.  Have students put the outlines in their three-pronged notebook.
    2.  Tell students that for the next six weeks they will be doing research on endangered animals in order to write a 1-2 page report.
    3.   Have students search the Internet for names of endangered animals at sites such as these:     4.  Students choose an endangered animal from their Internet search as the subject of their report.
    5.  Students use on-line animal sites to print information on their animal.
    6.  Students place their animal information in their three-pronged notebook. (Allow students to search data bases on the Internet for about a week.)
    7.  Students use information gathered from their Internet search to write one hand-written page on each subtopic (A-J) of their outline (outline.html) on college-ruled paper, skipping every other line.  (That way, the teacher can edit student rough drafts.)
    8.  Pace students so that they complete only one subsection of the outline at a time.
    9.  Allow students time to type their edited rough draft for each section using the on-line template at this location:  (template.html).
    10. Once students are done typing their animal report on-line, have them save their work on a disk.
    11.  Show students how to copy, cut, and paste on-line sites used in their animal research on subsection "K" of their template.  (They can use the "link" tool to link sites on their template.)
    12.  Allow students who have completed the typed portion of their animal report to search the Internet for an image of their animal. (Have students right-mouse click on the animal image, and save it on a disk.) Later, they can insert their image on the template using Netscape Composer or another web editor.

Extension:

Evaluation:
     1.  Students will demonstrate basic computer technology skills by using appropriate vocubulary, tasks, keyboarding, and problem-solving strategies to write a science report.
     2.  Students will show evidence of accessing, storing, retrieving, and transmitting electronic information in their  published science report.
    3.  Students will create a 1-2 page document using word-processing skills as judged by their finished endangered animal report.
Standards:
  • Science:
    • 4.5 Plants and animals in ecosystem interact
    5.1 Investigate using instruments, data, measurements, and graphical data
    5.5 Understand organisms - including vertebrates and invertebrates
  • Math:
    • 4.17 Collect, organize, and display data in a variety of forms
    5.17 Collect, organize, and display data in a variety of forms
  • English:
    • Writing:
    4.7  Write for a variety of purposes
    5.7 Write for a variety of purposes
    Reading/Literature:
    4.5 Comprehend a variety of printed material
    5.6 Comprehend a variety of literary forms
    Research:
    4.9 Use information resources to research a topic
    5.8 Synthesize information from a variety of resources
  • Computer/Technology:
    • 5.2. Develop basic technology skills.
    5.3 Use search strategies to retrieve electronic
    information using telecommunications databases.
    5.4 Create a 1-2 page document using word-processing skills

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    If you would like to add to these Endangered Species
    pages then email your contributions to Christiansburg Elementary

    © copyright 1997 Christiansburg Elementary
    Last updated on March 21, 2000