Student+Activity+Page

= __**Student Activities Page for Ms. Michaels' 4th Grade Class**__ = Please scroll down to see the activities we will be working on each day this week. There will be a different activity each day. Enjoy!



//__Biomes, Animals, and Habitats! __//



=**Monday: ** = = __//Introduction to Biomes, Animals, and Habitats// __=

Today, in class, we will be introduced to biomes, the habitats within them, and the animals that live in those habitats. In class, we will have a discussion about what biomes and habitats are, what kinds of animals live in those areas, how those animals survive in those particular regions (ex. growing fur, are nocturnal, what they eat, etc), and how humans have habitats of their own and how humans can have positive and negative effects on the natural habitats of animals. We will also discuss why it is important to preserve the habitats of animals and what actions will help humans to preserve those habitats (like recycling).

Then, we will watch the video below and continue the discussion. Make sure to practice good listening skills and be respectful of the other students who are trying to watch the video, too. No chatting during the video will be best!

After the discussion, each of you will individually write a reflection about what we discussed.

You can reflect on:
 * which habitats you find most interesting
 * what you would like to do to preserve habitats, or
 * what you are already doing to preserve habitats
 * how preserving habitats makes you feel
 * why you think preserving habitats is or is not important
 * how you feel about your own habitat
 * and much more

You are allowed to reflect on whatever you'd like, but it must pertain to the video and discussion, and should touch on some, if not all, of the ideas I suggested above.

You will be given quite a bit of time to complete this reflection on some notebook paper, in class.

Once the reflections are completed, there will be some time for you all to share your thoughts with the rest of the class. You do not have to share your thoughts out loud to the class, but you must write your thoughts down.

When everyone who wants to share has done so, we will go over the activities that will be planned for the rest of the week. You will be given time to ask questions about the week's activities.

media type="youtube" key="ag5ATGEplbU" height="344" width="425"

=** Tuesday: **=

=__// Group Scavenger Hunts //__=

Today, you will be placed into groups to complete an online scavenger hunt about biomes, animals, habitats, ways that humans positively and negatively effect natural habitats, and ways that humans can help to preserve natural habitats.

Your group must research the answers to this scavenger hunt, using the internet.

Read the questions carefully. When you are searching for the answers, make sure to read the information from the websites carefully as well!

There will be one PC and one Laptop for each group.

Make sure everyone is participating equally! Working well with your team is very important to get this assignment finished!

Here are two websites that will help you with the scavenger hunt:

The World's Biomes

What's It Like Where You Live?

=Wednesday: =

=__//Group Research// __=

Today, we will get together with our groups to do a research assignment.

There will be one PC computer and one laptop per group.

As a group, you all must decide on one animal to research further. Take votes or speak to your group members kindly and clearly to explain your opinions. Again, working well with your group is very important for this assignment!

Your group must research:
 * what the animal's habitat is
 * what type of biome it is in
 * what regions of the world this would be in
 * Example=
 * Biome: deciduous forest
 * Habitat: forests, swamps, open brushland
 * Regions of the World: Southern Canada, Peru, Brazil
 * the animal's diet (what the animal eats)
 * how the animal adapts to survive where it lives
 * many interesting facts about the animal that you have found in your research

You will be given the whole class period to conduct your research. Everyone should participate in some way to the research. Read the information from the websites carefully!


 * Here are some helpful websites that you can use for your research:**

What's It Like Where You Live? → This is the same website I gave you when you did the scavenger hunts. It is perfectly okay to use it for your research, too!

Animal Habitats →If you scroll to toward the bottom of this website, you will see a list of animals. You can click on the names of the animals and you will be linked to a page that has all kinds of interesting facts about these animals.

**NOTE:** You are not to use wikipedia for research! I do not mind any other sites. Make sure your group is keeping track of the websites that you are getting information from.

**SUGGESTION:** Assign jobs to your group members. Have some people in charge of researching the facts and pictures, some people in charge of writing down and organizing the information, and some people in charge of planning out the slides. You can also take turns with the jobs.

** REMINDER: ** Remember, on Monday, I gave you all an outline of what the week's activities will be like. Keep in mind that your group will be making a PowerPoint presentation about the animal you have chosen to research. Keep track of your research and keep it organized!

→I will show you how to make folders to save your work and the websites in. →Each group is allowed to print no more than FOUR pages. Therefore, remember how to make folders on the computer and save your research and other work in these folders.

=Thursday: =

//**__Group PowerPoint Presentations__**//

After conducting research, the group will create a PowerPoint presentation on your animal.

Your group will present the PowerPoint to the class!

The group must include in the PowerPoint:
 * at least three pictures of the animal
 * two other graphics
 * transitions between the slide
 * text effects
 * sound effects

**At the end of your presentation, be sure to include which websites you used on your last slide.** **This slide will be called the Works Cited Slide.**

We will try to have every group present their PowerPoints today. If we do not finish the presentations today, we will have the groups who are left present tomorrow.

→It is very important that everyone practices good listening skills when others are presenting! →It is also important for everyone in the group to speak and present their part of the presentation clearly--make good eye contact with the audience, speak loud enough for everyone to hear you, don't play with your hair or clothing when presenting!

=Friday: =

//**__Class Video!__**//

Today is going to be a very fun day! If we have any groups left to present, we will finish the presentations today.

Once we finish the presentations, we are going to work together as a class to make a class video!

We will be using Windows Movie Maker to make a class video about all that we have learned this week.

Our video will be on:
 * what we have learned about biomes, habitats, and the animals that live in those habitats
 * we will also have in our video ways that humans can help to preserve biomes and natural habitats, AND why it is important.

We will discuss as a class and take votes about how we want to organize the video.

We must use good teamwork skills to get this assignment completed the way we would all like it to be done.

If we do not finish the video today, we will have a little bit of time on Monday to finish it.

When our video is finished, the other Fourth Grade teachers and their classes want us to share our video with them.

You all, as a class, will be in charge of answering any questions the students, or teachers, have about the video. Remember to use good speaking and presenting skills!!

Pictures used on this wiki page were found from google images:

→Recycling Picture found at- [|www.coflt.net/ scott/webquests/]

→Animal Habitats Picture found at- [|www.eltnews.com/ columns/david_lisgo/]

→Biomes Picture found at- [|gamesforward.com/ Biomes.html]

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