Molloy College

Division of Education
Lesson Plan
Student: Erin Toohey Professor Rickey Moroney
Course EDU 5230 02 Date: 23 April 2019
Grade 8 Topic: The Life of Charles Darwin Content Area: English

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES
After reviewing a PowerPoint presentation on the Life of Charles Darwin as well as exploring
the Charles Darwin Weebly website, students will have an understanding of Darwin’s life and
his impact on science, and students will create a timeline displaying significant events in
Darwin’s life and score at least a 14 out of 20 based on the Charles Darwin Timeline Rubric.

NYS-CCLS / +NYS STANDARDS AND INDICATORS

Common Core English Language Arts Standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.1.B: Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant,
accurate data and evidence that demonstrate an understanding of the topic or text, using credible
sources.
Indicator: This will be evident when students complete The Life of Charles Darwin
Timeline by conducting research and citing at least two sources as well providing detailed
explanations of the significance of the events represented on their timeline.

ISTE Standards:
1a. articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve
them and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.
Indicator: This will be evident when students explore the Charles Darwin Weebly
Website as well as conduct their own research to complete The Life of Charles Darwin Timeline.

2c. demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and
sharing intellectual property.
Indicator: This will be evident when students provide the correct citation for two sources
used for research to complete The Life of Charles Darwin Timeline.

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
 SMART Board
 iPad
 The Life of Charles Darwin Timeline Rubric
 Timeline Direction Sheet- struggling, average, and advanced versions
 Weebly Website: http://charlesdarwin8thgrade.weebly.com/standards.html
 MOTIVATION
When students enter the classroom, the teacher will instruct students to write a list of as many
things they know and/or want to learn about Charles Darwin, and students will share their
responses during a brief class discussion.

DEVELOPMENTAL PROCEDURES
1. Students will create a list of anything they might already know about Charles Darwin.
Who was Charles Darwin? What do you already know about him? What are some things you
would like to learn about him? Do you know why he is such a significant figure in the field of
science? Do you know why he faced criticism for his work?

2. The students will view a PowerPoint presentation about Charles Darwin, while the teacher
provides students with information about Charles Darwin.

3. Students will use their iPads to explore the Charles Darwin Weebly website.

4. Students will perform a think-pair-share where they discuss what they have learned about
Charles Darwin from the PowerPoint and the Weebly website.
What parts of the website did you and your partner explore? What are some new things you
learned about Charles Darwin?

5. Students will take a Kahoot quiz on Charles Darwin’s life.

6. To close the lesson, students will be given a direction sheet and the rubric for The Life of
Charles Darwin Timeline.

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

 Discussion

Indicator: This will be evident when the students as a class discuss anything they
know and want to learn about Charles Darwin.

 Direct Instruction

Indicator: This will be evident when the teacher presents students with
information about Charles Darwin with an accompanying PowerPoint.

 Cooperative Learning

Indicator: This will be evident when students work with their assigned partners
to discuss what they learned from the PowerPoint presentation and the Weebly
website.
 ADAPTATIONS
 The student who has difficulty focusing will be re-engaged with non-verbal cues.
 The student with medical needs will be given a “Bathroom Pass” and a desk near the
classroom door.
 The student who has difficulty with reading will be provided with a reading pen that
allows the student to hear the words the pen glides over on his or her iPad.

DIFFERENTIATION OF INSTRUCTION
Struggling Students
Struggling students will receive a Timeline Direction Sheet which includes all seven important
dates to be included on the timeline as well as one source they may include in their citation.

Average Students
Students at grade level will receive a Timeline Direction Sheet which includes three important
dates that should appear on their timeline.

Advanced Students
Students above grade level will receive a Timeline Direction Sheet which provides no dates.

ASSESSMENT
 informal: Students will complete a Kahoot quiz to demonstrate their understanding of
Darwin’s life.
 formal: Students will complete The Life of Charles Darwin Timeline and score at least a
14 out of 20 on the teacher created rubric.

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
 Following the lesson, students will complete the SMART Notebook activity to test their
knowledge of Charles Darwin located on the Charles Darwin Weebly Website.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES
Direct Teacher Intervention
 During an extra help session, the teacher and student will review Charles Darwin’s life
using the interactive website, https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Charles-
Darwin/273921.

Academic Enrichment
 Students will further explore the controversy that surrounded the theory of evolution by
reading the play, Inherit the Wind, which follows the famous Scopes Trial which dealt
with the issue of teaching the theory of evolution in schools.
 REFERENCES
Common core state standards initiative english language arts standards. Retrieved from

http://www. corestandards.org /ELA-Literacy/WHST/6-8/

ISTE standards for students. Retrieved from https://www.iste.org/standards/for-students

Kriss, E. & Toohey, E. (2019, 6 March) Charles darwin. Retrieved from

http://charlesdarwin8thgrade.weebly.com/

RubiStar. (2008) Retrieved from http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

 The Life of Charles Darwin Timeline Directions
Create a timeline displaying significant events in Charles Darwin's life. You
must include at least seven dates and events on your timeline. Please use the dates
below as a guide for your timeline. Be sure to label and give a brief (three to five
sentences) explanation of each event included. Use details and facts to support
your statements. Each event should include at least one picture as well. Include
citations from at least two reputable online sources. You may use the website listed
below as one of your sources. You may explore the sources included on the
Charles Darwin Weebly Website in addition to conducting your own research.
Each of the following dates represents a significant year in Darwin’s life. Use the
following dates as a guide for your timeline.
1. 1809
2. 1825
3. 1831
4. 1835
5. 1859
6. 1871
7. 1882

You may use the following website as one source for your research in addition to
finding one source on your own. Be sure to provide citations for both sources.
https://www.bbc.com/timelines/zq8gcdm
 The Life of Charles Darwin Timeline Directions
Create a timeline displaying significant events in Charles Darwin's life. You
must include at least seven dates and events on your timeline. Please use the dates
below as a guide for your timeline. Be sure to label and give a brief (three to five
sentences) explanation of each event included. Use details and facts to support
your statements. Each event should include at least one picture as well. Include
citations from at least two reputable online sources. You may explore the sources
included on the Charles Darwin Weebly Website in addition to conducting your
own research.
Each of the following dates represents a significant year in Darwin’s life. Use the
following dates as a guide for your timeline.
 start with 1809
 the year 1859 should appear somewhere in the middle
 end with 1882
 The Life of Charles Darwin Timeline Directions
Create a timeline displaying significant events in Charles Darwin's life. You
must include at least seven dates and events on your timeline. Be sure to label and
give a brief (three to five sentences) explanation of each event included. Use
details and facts to support your statements. Each event should include at least one
picture as well. Include citations from at least two reputable online sources. You
may explore the sources included on the Charles Darwin Weebly Website in
addition to conducting your own research.
 Timeline: The Life of Charles Darwin

Teacher Teacher Name: Erin Toohey

Student Name: ________________________________________

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Content/Facts Facts were accurate Facts were accurate for Facts were accurate Very few or no
for all events reported almost all events for some of the events accurate facts for
on the timeline. reported on the reported on the events reported on the
timeline. timeline. timeline.

Dates An accurate date has An accurate date has An accurate date has Dates are inaccurate
been included for been included for been included for only and/or missing for
each event. almost every event. a few events. several or all events.

Graphics All graphics are All graphics are Not enough graphics Timeline has few or
effective and effective, but there and/or only some no graphics or several
balanced with text appear to be too few. graphics are effective. graphics are not
use. effective.

Spelling and There are no spelling Timeline contains one There are two to three There were many
Capitalization or capitalization minor spelling or spelling or spelling and/or
errors. capitalization error. capitalization errors. capitalization errors.

Readability The overall The overall appearance The overall The overall
appearance of the of the timeline is appearance of the appearance of the
timeline is pleasing somewhat pleasing and timeline is relatively timeline is messy and
and easy to read. easy to read. and readable. difficult to read.

Directions: Use the above rubric to make sure your timeline is correct. Remember, you must create a
timeline displaying significant events in Charles Darwin's life. You must include at least seven events on
your timeline. Be sure to label and give a brief (three to five sentences) explanation of each event
included. Use details and facts to support your statements. Each event should include at least one
picture as well. Include citations from at least two reputable online sources. You may explore the
sources on the Weebly website (http://charlesdarwin8thgrade.weebly.com/) in addition to conducting
your own research.