Lesson Title: Bears Online
by: Nicole Zecchino
Grade Level: Early Childhood

Goal: To present some facts about types of bears, their diet, and characteristics 

Learning Objectives: Students will: 
Listen to a bear roar
Identify the smallest type of bear
Compare the diet of an American black bear with most other bears
Compare characteristics of different bears 

NJ Science Standards:
Standard 5.7: All Students Will Investigate The Diversity Of Life

Indicators: #1-Recognize the diversity of plants and animals on earth. 

#3- Recognize that individuals vary within every species. 

#4- Identify and describe external features of plants and animals that help them survive in varied habitats.  

Materials/Resources: 
computer, projector, screen, Internet access, journals

www.nature-net.com/bears/cubden.html

www.bearden.org/blkbear.html

www.stlzoo.org/content.asp?page_name=bearbuzz

Procedure:
The sites chosen will be used for instruction with six students, three boys and three girls. Only the teacher needs to use the computer and projector while the class views images on the screen. The sites will be viewed on the screen as the teacher asks the questions.

Go to: www.nature-net.com/bears/cubden.html
Listen to the roaring bear
Read facts 1-4 on Ten Facts About Bears
Ask: What are two different kinds of bears? Name the smallest bear.
Read facts 5-7
Ask: What are some things that bears eat?
Read facts 8-10
Ask: Who are bears’ biggest enemy? 

Go to: www.bearden.org/blkbear.html
Read description and diet categories
Ask: How big is the American Black Bear?
Discuss the diet of the American black bear in comparison to most other bears.  Ask the students if the diets are similar.
Read “Threats to Survival”

Go to: www.stlzoo.org/content.asp?page_name=bearbuzz
Read the buzz on bears
Ask: What new bear facts did you “hear”?

Go back to: www.nature-net.com/bears/cubden.html
Click on The Bear Den
Click on The Bear Den Photo Gallery
Look at pictures of the grizzly bear, a giant panda, the American Black Bear and a polar bear.
Have students point out distinguishing characteristics. 

Student Product: Students will answer 2 questions in their journals and include a picture of their favorite bear. See “Assessment”. 

Assessment: 
Answer in journals: What do bears eat? How are bears alike and different? See chart. 

Reflection: Because this lesson was taught to first graders, it was fairly easy to organize and prepare. The information that was provided about bears was fairly basic so that the students could grasp and understand it.

In order to teach this lesson in the classroom, I had to arrange with the computer teacher a time in which I could have access to the computer lab. The classroom does have a computer, however, it does not have Internet access. We were able to go to the computer lab and I had adequate time in which to complete the lesson.

I did feel that all of my goals and objectives were met. There is however some things that I might do differently if I perform this lesson again. For one, I would give the students some form of prior knowledge about bears or activate their prior knowledge about bears. I felt that when I started this lesson, which was exciting and wonderful, the topic bears, really did not tie into anything that the students were learning at that particular time. Perhaps even a book about bears could have been read to the students to provide them with some preparation for this lesson.  Also, if I were to perform this lesson again, I would not allow the students so much leeway. I was very lenient with the students during the lesson. I allowed them to sit where they wanted to and I did not stress raising ones hand to talk or talking only on turn. I figured that because this was a different activity than the ones that the students are normally used to. Next time I teach this lesson, I will be sure to remind the students that although the lesson may be somewhat different than what they are used to, they are still expected to behave properly.

The students were very interested in the lesson. They were sharing stories about bears. They were making insightful comments about the bears that they were seeing on the screen. and they were asking to see more websites.

Although I felt that the students lacked in background knowledge about bears, I feel as if they did come away with a basic understanding of bears. This lesson could be made much more detailed if a teacher wanted to take an in depth look at bears. I feel that the chart was an excellent reinforcement activity for the students after the lesson. The indications of student learning from the worksheets definitely met my expectations.