Title of Project : Animals - Mammals - Grade One
Lesson 1: What is a Mammal?
Objectives:
Students will:
- identify the characteristics of mammals
- use the computer as a tool to gather information from web sites
- choose a mammal, draw and write facts
Instructional Methods:
- teacher-led discussion, inquiry
Materials Needed:
- chart paper
- book - Animals Born Alive and Well by Ruth Heller  - 1982, Grosset & Dunlap: New York (ISBN 0-448-01822-5)
- mammal worksheet
 -pencil, markers, crayons
- Internet site bookmarked - All About Mammals
(http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/Mammals.shtml) 
Activities Prior to Computer:
- Show the cover of the book Animals Born Alive and Well by Ruth Heller.  Have the students predict the kind of information this book might tell  them.
- Use a guided reading strategy to read this book. Use the pictures to help the students predict what they will read about and to lead them to identify mammal characteristics.
As the characteristics are identified, the teacher will write them on chart paper to develop a list. 
For Example:
Mammals have backbones.
Mammals are warm-blooded.
Mammals have fur or hair covering their body.
Mammals have a developed brain.
Their babies are born live.
Their babies are fed milk from the mother's body.
Activities While at the Computer:
- Individual students will work with an adult helper 
- Click on the title of the Internet site below:(already bookmarked)
All About Mammals
- Read "What Is a Mammal?"
- Have the student choose a mammal from the list provided on this web site and click on the mammal's name to learn about this mammal.
- Have the adult read the information on the mammal and discuss the selection using questions such as:
  What does it look like?
  Where does it live?
  What does it eat?
- Have the student identify the information needed to complete their worksheet:
Activities For After Using the Computer:
- When all are complete, the teacher can plan time for the students to share their information on mammals.
- The teacher can also compile into a book to have available for individuals to read.
Student Assessment:
-During the oral part of the lesson, choose three or four students to observe closely.  Consider:
* Does the student contribute answers voluntarily? when asked directly?
* Can the student identify facts from information read and heard?
- Select a few students to observe. Talk with these children while they are working on the computer. Make anecdotal notes on sticky notes or make a chart to fill in.  For each child, note things such as:
* Did the student use the computer with some assistance to gather information?
* Can the student name three characteristics of their chosen mammal?
 

On to Lesson 2 - Mammals That Live in Water
back to Grade One - Animal Project Page