Title of Project : Animals - Birds - Grade One
Lesson 1: What is a Bird?
Objectives:
Students will:
- learn characteristics of a bird
- use the computer as a tool to gather information from web sites 
Instructional Methods:
- brainstorming, concept attainment, reading for meaning
Materials Needed:
- pictures of birds
- bird books (fiction and non-fiction)
- Internet site bookmarked - All About Birds
(http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/Allaboutbirds.html)
- chart paper
- magazines, brochures, newspapers
- worksheet ( Be sure to choose the Landscape Orientation from the Print Properties box)
Activities Prior to Computer:
- Provide students with a collection of fiction and non-fiction books and pictures on the topic of birds.
- Before browsing and viewing, write the frame sentence "Birds have ......." on the board or chart paper. Discuss with the students what they think birds have.  Record their ideas beneath the beginning phrase and read them together.
- Invite the students to browse the collection of books and to view the pictures of birds. 
- Add more ideas to complete the frame sentence as students contribute.
- Refine ideas to make a chart of characteristics common only to birds
eg.    All Animals            Birds
       - have 2 eyes           - covered with feathers
       - living                     - have wings
                                     - warm blooded
                                     - beak
                                     - two legs
                                     - hatches from egg
Activities While at the Computer:
- while the other students are copying down the characteristics of birds, have groups of students (with the aid of an adult) look for answers to questions on the worksheet using the Internet site below.
- Click on the title of the Internet site below:(already bookmarked)
All About Birds
 - complete the bottom of the worksheet
Activities For After Using the Computer:
- Design a Collage - Have the students look through magazines, newspapers, brochures, ....to find pictures of birds.  They can also draw their own pictures. Talk about how a collage gives information through pictures.  Have students work in small groups or individually to create a "Bird" collage, including a title.  These can be displayed for viewing.
Student Assessment:
- Collect and assess the students' worksheets, using questions such as the following:
* Are the characteristics put under the correct heading?
* Did the student answer the questions correctly using the information from the web site?

On to Lesson Two - Research a Bird
back to Grade One - Animal Project Page