Science Lesson 1 For Unit Plan

Amy Judy
March 5, 2015
Bluefield State College

Daily Lesson Plan
Subject: Science
Topic: Dinosaurs
Grade:
Length of Lesson: 30 minutes
First
Introduction/Essential Question:
Standard:
What are fossils and why are they important?
SC.S.1.1 Nature of Science

SC.S.5.1.3 Application of Science
Objectives:
A: General:
SC.0.1.1.1 Ask questions about themselves and their world.
SC.O.1.3.2 Use models as representations of real things.
B: Specific:
Students will explain in their own words the definition of fossil.

Students will look at a picture of a fossilized dinosaur footprint then illustrate which dinosaur
they believe made the footprint.
Students will create their own model of a dinosaur fossil.
Lecture with discussion

Demonstration of activity
Create a model
Pre-made play dough

Plastic dinosaurs
Small student whiteboards
Dry erase markers
White construction paper (one sheet per student)
Crayons and/or colored pencils
Pictures of fossilized leaves, insects, and fish
Pictures of non-fossilized leaves, insects, and fish
Picture of fossilized dinosaur footprint
Overhead projector
Overhead projection screen
Methods:
Materials:
Coloring sheet of dinosaurs (for tier 1 learners only)

Wax paper
Lined paper for assessment
Direct Instruction (I do):

Engage students by asking the question How do we know dinosaurs existed? Allow for a short five
minute classroom discussion. Explain what a fossil is: (As defined by Merriam Websters word central
for students a fossil is a print or the remains of a plant or animal of a past age preserved in earth or rock.)
I will continue to engage students by presenting photographs, which are attached to this lesson plan, of
leaves, insects, and fish which are all items other than dinosaur bone that could be fossils with the
explanation that just because something is not extinct does not mean it cannot become a fossil over a
long period of time. I will then present students with pictures so they can compare what a fossilized leaf,
insect, and fish look like in comparison to a non-fossilized leaf, insect, and fish. After all photographs
have been viewed, ask students if they could find any characteristics that the fossilized items had in
common.
Guided Practice (We do):
Place the photograph of the dinosaur footprint on the overhead projector so that the image on the screen
is large enough for all students to see. Each student should have one sheet of white construction paper,
and his/her crayons or colored pencils. The directions for this activity are that students will illustrate the
dinosaur in which they believe left this fossilized footprint. I will model this activity for students on the
whiteboard by drawing the dinosaur I believe left the footprint. Allow the image of the footprint to
remain on projection screen until the completion of activity. We will display the footprint and the
students drawings in our classroom.
Differentiation:
Tier 1 learners: Will be provided a coloring sheet of a dinosaur which they could either color for display
in our classroom, or with assistance could trace the dinosaur and color their traced image.
Tier 2 learners: Teacher will work with these students by prompting them to recall different names of
dinosaurs so they complete this activity.
Tier 1 learners: Will work independently to create and color a dinosaur in which they believe left the
fossilized footprint.
Closure:
To wrap our lesson, I will review with students the definition of the word fossil with students. As I am
reviewing I will also hold up the photographs of the fossilized leaf, insects, and fish so students can associate an
image with the word fossil.
Independent Practice (You do):
Allow students to sit in groups of three to four as they will have to share the plastic dinosaurs to make
their fossils. Students will not open their play dough without first listening to all directions. Begin with
placing a large enough piece of wax paper in front of each student to cover his/her workspace. (This will
keep the play dough from sticking to students desks) Give each group of students two or three of the
plastic dinosaurs. The plastic dinosaurs will be used to make the fossilized impression in the play
dough. Give each student a pre-made ball of play dough. Directions for this activity are that each student
is to create their own dinosaur fossil by rolling out their play dough and making an impression of the
dinosaur(s) of their own choosing. The fossils are to be left in the classroom overnight to allow them
to harden. Students will be permitted to take them home the following day.
Assessment/Evaluation of Lesson:
Students will be assessed working in small collaborative groups to present the class with two facts about
fossils. Each student must write the facts that his/her group presents. Some examples could be:
Fossils are the only way we have of learning about
dinosaurs
Fossils are parts or all of an animal or plant that lived a long
time ago.
Fossils do not have to be from a plant or animal that is
extinct
Fossilized objects have the same shape of the original
object.
They will also be assessed by checking the fossil model that they created.
Picture of dinosaur footprint to be used with guided practice activity.
Coloring sheet for tier 1 learners for guided practice activity (example 1)
Coloring sheet for tier 1 learners for guided practice activity (example 2)
Image of fossilized leaf for use in direct instruction
Image of fossilized fish for use with direct instruction
Image of fossilized insect for use with direct instruction
Image of a non-fossilized leaf for use with direct instruction.
Image of a non-fossilized fish for use with direct instruction
Image of a non-fossilized insect for use with direct instruction
Resources:

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Amy Judy

Bluefield State College

Length of Lesson: 30 minutes

What are fossils and why are they important?

SC.S.1.1 Nature of Science

Students will explain in their own words the definition of fossil.

Lecture with discussion

Pre-made play dough

Coloring sheet of dinosaurs (for tier 1 learners only)

Direct Instruction (I do):

Picture of dinosaur footprint to be used with guided practice activity.

Image of fossilized leaf for use in direct instruction

Image of fossilized fish for use with direct instruction

Image of fossilized insect for use with direct instruction

Image of a non-fossilized leaf for use with direct instruction.

Image of a non-fossilized fish for use with direct instruction

Image of a non-fossilized insect for use with direct instruction

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