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Discovering Inventors Type of Teaching Unit: Unit Plan Grade Level: 5th Time Frame: About 13 days Subject Matter: Science Cross-Curricular Components: Social Studies and Language Arts

Teacher Information:

Anastasia Liosatos
St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr School
AAM affiliation: DePaul University
anastasialiosatos@hotmail.com
 

Overview of Lesson Plan Description and Rationale:

For this unit, students will be collaborating with their group members in order to complete Science Fair projects.  Students will investigate a famous inventor through the Library of Congress' website.  They will create a timeline of the inventor's life which will include information found on specific collections.  The groups will also be responsible for writing a biography of their assigned inventor.  This biography will include information such as childhood, family, and discoveries that the person made.  The final part of the Science Fair project will involve a demonstration of a concept that the inventor is responsible for. 

Detailed Lesson Links:

Introducing the Unit

Creating a Timeline

What is a Biography?

Experimenting

The Science Fair

Scientist and Inventor List

Scavenger Hunt

Student Work

Illinois State Standards:

• Science - Inquiry and Design:

            A. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry.

                            11.A.2a Formulate questions on a specific science topic and choose the steps needed to answer the questions

                            11.A.2b Collect data for investigations using scientific process skills including observing, estimating and measuring.

                            11.A.2c Construct charts and visualizations to display data.

                            11.A.2e Report and display the results of individual and group investigations.

• Science, Technology, and Society:

             B. Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology and society.

                            13.B.2a Explain how technology is used in science for a variety of purposes (e.g., sample collection, storage and treatment; measurement; data collection, storage and retrieval; communication of information).

                            13.B.2b Describe the effects on society of scientific and technological innovations (e.g., antibiotics, steam engine, digital computer).

                            13.B.2c Identify and explain ways that science and technology influence the lives and careers of people.

• Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking Standards:

                            1.B.2a Establish purposes for reading; survey materials; ask questions; make predictions; connect, clarify and extend ideas.

                            1.B.2b Identify structure (e.g., description, compare/contrast, cause and effect, sequence) of nonfiction texts to improve comprehension.

                            3.C.2b Produce and format compositions for specified audiences using available technology.

           
                            4.B.2a Present oral reports to an audience using correct language and nonverbal expressions for the intended purpose and message within a suggestedorganizational format.

 

Technology Required:

   1.  Internet: LOC’s Website
    2.  PowerPoint: comparing photographs

 

Assessment Tool (Informal):

There will be various curricular components to this unit, including scientific, historical, and language components.  Each element will require that the student complete specific tasks.  At the end of the unit they will have completed and will be assessed on several tasks and pieces of work; these include, but are not limited to the following: 

• timeline
• biography
• experiment write-up
• presentation for the Science Fair 
• journaling

 

Assessment Tools (Formal):

Timeline Rubric

Biography Rubric

Experiment and Write-Up Rubric

Science Fair Project Rubric

Science Fair Self-Evaluation Rubric

 

 

 

 

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