Virtual Field Trip Lesson Plan

TItle: WhatWondersAwaitintheWonderfulWillowbrookWildlife?
Content Areas: Science & Language Arts

Grade Level: Second Grade

Education Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core

Standards: http://www.nextgenscience.org/dci-arrangement/2-ls4-biological-evolution-unity-and-diversity
2-LS4-1 Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life
in different habitats. (Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the diversity of living
things in each of a variety of different habitats.)
Make observations (firsthand or from media) to collect data which can
be used to make comparisons. (2-LS4-1)
LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans
There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in
different places on land and in water. (2-LS4-1)
Common Core State Standards Connections: ELA/Literacy -
W.2.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g. read a
number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science
observations) 2-LS4-1
W.2.8 REcall information from experiences or gather information from
provided sources to answer a question. 2-LS4-1

Objectives: Students will explore the virtual field trip website independently.
Students will take notes in their notebook or on the computer.
Students will participate in shared research to create a Describing Wheel
which is a diagram detailing one of the places in Willowbrook Wildlife.
Students will collaborate to complete the Goal Reasons diagram as they
synthesize the information learned on the virtual field trip.

Materials: Virtual Field Trip: http://vitutalfieldtripwillowbrook.weebly.com/

Describing Wheel Diagram
http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/wheel_eng.pdf
Goal Reasons Diagram
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7GLpJLjBQogZ2VtVkctY2tsRDA/view?us
p=sharing
Chromebooks or Laptops
Smartboard (projector)
Google Docs, Google Keep, or notebook to take notes

Procedures: 1. Tell the class there are wonders waiting for them at the Willowbrook
Wildlife center and today they will visit the center on their virtual field trip.
2. Ask students to get their Chromebooks to go onto the website link.
Teachers can post this link to Google Classroom so students can find it or
add it to the library homepage for easy access.
 3. Demonstrate on the Smartboard what the virtual field trip looks like and
how the buttons are links. Show the various tab titles, home, visitor,
outdoor exhibit, nature trail, and lesson plan. Ask students while they
explore to think about how WIllowbrook Wildlife Center provides care and
medical treatment to injured or orphaned wild animals. You might want to
post the question on the board and repeat it aloud as they are exploring.
How does the WIllowbrook WIldlife Center provide care and medical
treatment to injured or orphaned wild animals?
4. Ask students to also think about how they serve as a resource to teach
Dupage Countys residents about living in harmony with local wildlife.
5. Explain to the students they will be exploring the virtual field trip and take
notes while they explore. They can use their notebooks or Google
Docs/Google Keep to take notes.
6. Give them 20-30 minutes to explore the virtual field trip website and take
notes. Repeat the overarching questions from steps 3 and 4.
7. Next have them work with a partner to share their notes and complete the
Describing Wheel diagram. They should detail one of the places in
Willowbrook Wildlife Center. They write that place in the topic section and
come up with details about the place in the spaces in the wheel. Have
them show you their completed diagram before moving onto the next step.
8. With their partners students will complete the Goal Reasons diagram.
The goal is already listed and students are to come up with facts or
examples that connect to the goal. Encourage students to use their notes
and go back through the virtual field trip if needed.
9. Lastly, have the students pair up with other partners to share their
diagrams. Share some with the class using a document camera or holding
up the diagram and reading the information students wrote. Open a
discussion with the class about their virtual field trip experience.

Assessment: Students will be assessed on their diagrams. They will be assessed by work
completion, details, and collaboration on a meeting, progressing, not meeting
rubric.
Meeting Progressing Not Meeting

Work Diagrams are Diagrams are Diagrams are not

Completion completely filled partially completed completed
8 details on the 5-7 details on the Less than 5 details
describing wheel describing wheel on the describing
that relate to the that relate to the wheel that relate to
topic of choice topic of choice the topic of choice
6 facts or 3-5 facts or Less than 3 facts
examples in each examples in each or examples in each
circle of the goal circle of the goal circle of the goal
reasons diagram reasons diagram reasons diagram

Details All facts in the Some facts in the Only a few facts in
diagrams were diagrams were the diagrams were
 based on the based on the based on the virtual
virtual field trip virtual field trip field trip information
information and information and and only a few were
were directly some were directly directly related to the
related to the topic. related to the topic topic of choice.
Each circle or of choice. Most There was some
area of the circles or areas incorrect information
diagram had had correct or material not
correct information information. related to the virtual
based on the field trip.
material learned

Collaboration The diagram The diagram The diagram tasks

tasks were done tasks were mostly were mostly done
together in done together in independently and
partners and partners and not with a partner.
findings shared. findings shared. Findings were barely
Students equally Students shared. Students did
listened and spoke occasionally took not listen or speak
with partner. turns listening and much to each other
Cooperative and spoke with partner. and/or were not
helped partner if Somewhat cooperative.
needed. cooperative

Extensions There are so many great resources on the Forest Preserve District of Dupage
County. One great resource is the link to Butterflies or Other Pollinators. The
Forest Preserve District preserves land and restores natural resources to support
butterflies and other pollinators in Dupage forest preserves.
This link includes some great videos and various information about butterflies and
other insects that help pollinate. Students can explain this website and learn
about what other people, including students have done to help pollinators. They
can learn the importance of pollinators and understand what they can do to help.
The one link can become a new virtual field trip of its own!
http://www.dupageforest.org/Conservation/Managing_Natural_Resources/Butterfli
es_and_Other_Pollinators.aspx