This lesson plan introduces kindergarten students to different animal habitats around the world. It uses the program Google Earth to project real views of habitats so students can observe polar bear habitats and discuss whether it is suitable. The objectives are to teach students about habitats and address science and technology standards. Students will be assessed on their engagement during the lesson and by creating a habitat diorama for an animal afterward. Accommodations for various learning needs and contingencies for technical issues are considered.

1. Technology Integration With Animal Habitats By: Elizabeth Holland

3. Difficulties in teaching K-8 science

5. Technology Integration Strategies GoNorth! Adventure Learning Series Adventure Learning (AL) is a hybrid of distance education approach that provides students to explore real-world issues through authentic learning experiences within collaborative learning environments.

6. Technology Integration Strategies Webquests Designed to connect students with a reasonable sample of internet sources where they, on their own, decide which resources to use to answer their questions.

8. Area of Study: Science

10. Procedure To begin my lesson I will talk to the children about what a habitat is and how we all have a certain habitat we live and thrive in. I will pull up the GoogleEarth program and have it projected onto the screen. I will start talking about an animal the children would be familiar with and ask them where they think the animal would live. We will talk about how weather, food supply, and where the animal would live can affect what type of habitat the animal would live in. Once we reach a conclusion I will use GoogleEarth to show the children a real live view of that habitat.

11. Example First I would talk to the children about polar bears. I would ask what they eat and where they live We would talk about how polar bears like the cold . We can discuss different places polar bears may live Using GoogleEarth I will use our suggestions and look at the habitat. We will further discuss if this would be a good place for the polar bear to live.

12. Materials and Resources Needed GoogleEarth Projector Projection Screen

13. Preparation Very little skills are needed. The program is very easy to follow. Knowledge of various animals and their habitats. This lesson would relate to the behaviorist way of thinking. This knowledge cannot always be observed without the use of technology.

14. Assessment Method The children will be assessed during and after the activity. They will be assessed by how engaged they are and how much they try to participate. After the lesson I will assign a project for the children to choose an animal and create their habitat in a diorama.

15. Accomodations For the project I will allow the children to work in teams of two. I will pick the groups and will try to match all the children with someone who can help them in one way or another.

16. Special Concerns There will be no copyright concerns. To ensure child safety I will make sure all children are seated at all times. In the event of technical difficulties with the projector I will have my laptop and use my laptop for the children to view the habitats. Since it will be a small screen I will move the children closer to accommodate. Technological issues may interfere with my lesson and I will be prepared by having my back up lesson plan.

17. Reflection The children were really enthusiastic about the lesson and loved seeing the habitats so close up. Next time I try this lesson I can bring in some sort of representation of the animals. The students were very engaged and enthusiastic.